Stephen Sondheim
Lyric guide

Parlor Songs

Read Parlor Songs 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/parlor-songs Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Parlor Songs

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Beadle:

Sweet polly plunkett lay in the grass,

Turned her eyes heavenward, sighing,

"I am a lass who alas loves a lad

Who alas has a lass in canterbury.

'Tis a row dow diddle dow day,

'Tis a row dow diddle dow dee..."

Mrs: Oovett: oh, beadle bamford, I didn't know you were

A music lover, too.

Beadle. Food afternoon, mrs. lovett. fine instrument

You've acquired.

Mrs: Oovett: oh yes, it's my pride and joy.

Beadle:

Sweet polly plunkett saw her life pass,

Flew down the city road, crying,

"I am a lass who alas loves a lad

Who alas has a lass loves another lad

Who once I had

In canterbury.

'Tis a row dow diddle dow day,

'Tis a row dow diddle dow dee..."

Well, ma'am, I hope you have a few moments, you see

There's been complaints.

Mrs lovett: Complaints?

Beadle: It's about the stink from your chimney.

Just a routine inspection of course.: Ah, one of

Mother's favorites...

If one bell rings in the tower of bray,

Ding dong, your true love will stay.

Ding dong, one bell today

In the tower of bray...

Ding dong!

Anyway ma'am, health regulations being my duty,

I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to take a look.

Mrs lovett: At the bakehouse?

Bealde: That's right, ma'am.

Mrs lovett: Oh, but it's locked you see, and I don't

Have the key.

Mr. Todd, he's got the key, and he's not here right

Now.

Beadle: When will he be back?

Mrs lovett: Well I couldn't say, I'm sure.

Beadle: Well we'll just have to wait for him, won't we?

But if two bells ring in the tower of bray,

Ding dong, ding dong, your true love will stray.

Ding dong —

Tobias! Ting dong! two bells today in the tower of

Bray.

Ding dong, ding dong...

Beadle: What's that?

Mrs lovett. Oh. oh that's just the lad what helps me

With the pies.

Beadle: Well surley he's in the bakehouse, well isn't

He?

Mrs lovett: Oh yes, yes, oh yes of course!

But you see, last week he run off and we found him 2

Days later down by the

Embankment half-starved, poor thing.

So ever since then, we locks him in for his own

Security.

Oh! Do have a try at the third bell, it always touches

My heart.

Beadle: If three bells ring in the tower of bray...

Since you're a fellow music lover, ma'am,

Why not raise your voice along with mine?

Mrs: Aovett: all right.

Beadle:ding dong!

Mrs lovett: Ding dong!

Bealde: Ding dong!

Both: Your loves gone away

Beadle: Ding dong!

Mrs lovett: Ding dong!

Beadle and tobias: Ding dong!

Beadle: Three bells today!

Both: In the tower of bray.

Beadle and tobias: Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong...

Beadle: If four bells ring in tower of

Mrs: Hovett: how many bells are there?

Beadle: Twelve.

Ding dong!

Mrs. Lovett:ding dong!

Tobias:ding dong!

Beadle:ding dong!

Beadle, mrs. Lovett and tobias:

Then lovers must pray!...

Beadle: Ding dong!

Mrs lovett: Ding dong!

Tobias: Ding dong!

Beadle: Ding dong!

Beadle and tobias: Four bells today, in the tower of

Bray.

All: Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong

Beadle and tobias: Ding dong!

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Who performs "Parlor Songs"?

Stephen Sondheim performs "Parlor Songs", and this lyric page sits inside the Stephen Sondheim catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Parlor Songs"?

Yes. The related section below points to A Boy Like That, I Have A Love and A Little Priest 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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