Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
Edward Sanders Helena Bonham Carter Johnny Depp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
May I have your attention, please!
Do you wake every morning in shame and despair
To discover your pillow is covered with hair
Or what not should be there?
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
From now on you can waken at ease
I will show you a miracle, marvelous, rare
Gentlemen, you are about to see
Something what rose from the dead
On the top of my head!
'Twas Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
That's what did the trick, sir,
True, sir, true.
Was it quick sir?
Did it in a tick, sir,
Just like an elixir
Ought to do!
How about a bottle, mister?
Only costs a penny, guaranteed.
Does Pirelli's
Stimulate the growth, sir?
You can have my oath, sir,
'Tis unique.
Rub a minute
Stimulatin', i'n' it?
Soon you'll have to thin it
Once a week!
Pardon me, ma'am, what's that awful stench?
Are we standing near an open trench?
Are we standing near an open trench?
Pardon me, sir, what's that awful stench?
Buy Pirelli's
Miracle Elixir:
Anything what's slick, sir,
Soon sprouts curls.
Try Pirelli's!
When they see how thick, sir,
You can have your pick, sir,
Of the girls.
Wanna buy a bottle, missus?
Let Pirelli's
Activate your roots, sir.
Keep it off your boots, sir, eats right through.
Yes, get Pirelli's,
Use a bottle of it.
Ladies seem to love it.
Flies do too.
The song "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" from the musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is a comedic advertisement for a supposed hair tonic that promises to cure baldness and stimulate hair growth. The song is performed by Pirelli, a fraud who pretends to be an Italian barber and sells his tonic to unsuspecting customers. The lyrics suggest that the hair tonic is a miracle cure that can transform a person's appearance and attract the opposite sex. The song is upbeat and catchy, with a vaudeville-style melody that adds to the comic effect.
The lyrics of the song are satirical and poke fun at the idea of miracle cures and snake oil salesmen. The opening lines introduce the idea that waking up to find hair on one's pillow is a cause for shame and despair, which sets the stage for the exaggerated claims that follow. The chorus emphasizes the quick and easy nature of the cure, promising that the tonic will work "just like an elixir ought to do." The verse lines play off common concerns about hair growth and appearance, such as the smell associated with hair products and the desire to attract romantic partners. The repeated refrain of "wanna buy a bottle?" adds to the humor and makes fun of the desperation of those seeking a quick fix.
Line by Line Meaning
Ladies and gentlemen!
Attention please, ladies and gentlemen!
May I have your attention, please!
May I kindly have your attention, please!
Do you wake every morning in shame and despair
Do you feel remorse when you wake up every morning?
To discover your pillow is covered with hair
To find out that your pillow is covered with hair
Or what not should be there?
Other things that should not be there?
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
Well, my dear audience,
From now on you can waken at ease
From this moment on, you can wake up with peace of mind
You need never again have a worry or care
You will never again have to worry or care about anything
I will show you a miracle, marvelous, rare
I will show you a miraculous, marvelous, and rare thing
Gentlemen, you are about to see
Gentlemen, you are about to witness
Something what rose from the dead
Something that came back to life
On the top of my head!
On the top of my head!
'Twas Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
It was Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
That's what did the trick, sir,
That's what worked, sir,
True, sir, true.
Indeed, sir, indeed.
Was it quick sir?
Did it work quickly, sir?
Did it in a tick, sir,
It worked in a jiffy, sir,
Just like an elixir
Just like an elixir
Ought to do!
Should do!
How about a bottle, mister?
Would you like to buy a bottle, sir?
Only costs a penny, guaranteed.
It only costs a penny, and it's guaranteed.
Does Pirelli's
Does Pirelli's elixir
Stimulate the growth, sir?
Promote growth, sir?
You can have my oath, sir,
I swear to you, sir,
'Tis unique.
It is unique.
Rub a minute
Rub it for a minute
Stimulatin', i'n' it?
Stimulating, isn't it?
Soon you'll have to thin it
Soon you will have to thin your hair
Once a week!
Once a week!
Pardon me, ma'am, what's that awful stench?
Excuse me, ma'am, what is that unpleasant odor?
Are we standing near an open trench?
Are we standing near an open ditch?
Pardon me, sir, what's that awful stench?
Excuse me, sir, what is that unpleasant odor?
Buy Pirelli's
Buy Pirelli's elixir
Miracle Elixir:
Miracle Elixir:
Anything what's slick, sir,
Anything slick, sir,
Soon sprouts curls.
Will grow curls shortly.
Try Pirelli's!
Try Pirelli's elixir!
When they see how thick, sir,
When they see how thick, sir,
You can have your pick, sir,
You can choose any you want, sir,
Of the girls.
Of the girls.
Wanna buy a bottle, missus?
Madam, would you like to buy a bottle?
Let Pirelli's
Allow Pirelli's elixir
Activate your roots, sir.
To activate your roots, sir.
Keep it off your boots, sir, eats right through.
Keep it off your boots, sir, because it eats right through them.
Yes, get Pirelli's,
Yes, get Pirelli's elixir,
Use a bottle of it.
Use one bottle of it.
Ladies seem to love it.
Ladies seem to love it.
Flies do too.
So do the flies.
Contributed by Gavin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.