Stephen Sondheim
Lyric guide

A Little Priest

Read A Little Priest lyrics by Stephen Sondheim on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Stephen Sondheim Canonical path: /sondheim-stephen/a-little-priest Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

A Little Priest

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Ms. Lovett:

Seems a downright shame...

Todd (spoken):

Shame?

Ms. Lovett:

Seems an awful waste...

Such a nice plump frame

Wots his name has

Had...has...

Nor he can't be traced

Business needs a lift

Debts to be erased

Think of it as thrift, as a gift

If you get my drift

Seems and awful waste

I mean... With the price of meat wot it is

When you get it, if you get it

Todd:

Ah...

Ms. Lovett:

Good you got it

Take for instance ms. Mooney and her pie shop

Business never better using only pussy cats and toast

Now a pussy's good for maybe six or seven at the most

And I'm sure they can't compare as far as taste

(Simultaneously)

Todd:

Ms. Lovett, what a charming notion

Eminently practical

Ms. Lovett:

Well it does seem a waste!

Todd:

And yet appropriate as always

Ms. Lovett, how I've lived without you all these years

I'll never know!

How delectable!

Also undetectable!

Ms. Lovett:

Think about it

Lots of other gentlemen'll soon be coming in for a shave

Won't they?

Think of

All them

Pies!

Todd:

How choice!

How rare!

For what's the sound of the world out there?

Ms. Lovett:

What mr. Todd, what mr. todd

What is that sound?

Todd:

Those crunching noises pervading the air!

Ms. Lovett:

Yes, mr. Todd, yes mr. todd

Yes all around

Todd:

It's man devouring man, my dear!

Both:

Then who are we to deny it in here?

Todd (spoken):

These are desperate times, ms. Lovett

And desperate measures are called for

Ms. Lovett:

Here we are. Hot out of the oven

Todd:

What is that?

Ms. Lovett:

Its priest

Have a little priest

Todd:

Is it really good?

Ms. Lovett:

Sir, it's too good, at least

Then again they don't commit sins of the flesh

So it's pretty fresh

Todd:

Awful lot of fat

Ms. Lovett:

Only where it sat

Todd:

Haven't you got poet or something like that?

Ms. Lovett:

No you see the trouble with poet

Is how do you know it's deceased?

Try the priest!

Lawyer's rather nice

Todd:

If it's for a price

Ms. Lovett:

Order something else, though, to follow

Since no one should swallow it twice

Todd:

Anything that's lean?

Ms. Lovett:

Well then if you're british and loyal

You might enjoy royal marine

Anyway it's clean

Though of course it tastes of wherever it's been!

Todd:

Is that squire on the fire?

Ms. Lovett:

Mercy no, sir, look closer

You'll notice its grocer!

Todd:

Looks thicker, more like vicar

Ms. Lovett:

No, it has to be grocer

It's green!

Todd:

The history of the world, my love

Ms. Lovett:

Save a lot of graves

Do a lot of relatives favors

Todd:

Is those below serving those up above!

Ms. Lovett:

Everybody shaves so there should be plenty of flavors

Todd:

How gratifying for once to know

Both:

That those above will serve those down below

Todd (spoken):

What is that?

Ms. Lovett:

It's fop

Finest in the shop

Or we have some shepherds pie peppered

With actual shepherd on top!

And I've just begun

Is the politician so oily it's served with a doily?

Have one!

Todd:

Put it on a bun

Well you never know if it's going to run!

Ms. Lovett:

Try the friar!

Fried, it's drier!

Todd:

No!

The clergy is really too coarse and too mealy!

Ms. Lovett:

Then actor!

It's compacter!

Todd:

Ah, but always arrives overdone

(Spoken) I'll come again when you have judge on the menu

Have charity towards the world, my pet!

Ms. Lovett:

Yes, yes, I know, my love

Todd:

We'll take the customers that we can get!

Ms. Lovett:

High-born and low, my love!

Todd:

We'll not discriminate great from small

No, we'll serve anyone

(Simultaneously)

Ms. Lovett:

We'll serve anyone!

Todd:

Meaning anyone!

Both:

And to anyone

At all!

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Who performs "A Little Priest"?

Stephen Sondheim performs "A Little Priest", and this lyric page sits inside the Stephen Sondheim catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "A Little Priest"?

Yes. The related section below points to A Boy Like That, I Have A Love and A Very Nice Prince/ First Midnight/ Giants In The Sky with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Stephen Sondheim?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Stephen Sondheim's lyric pages.

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