Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
Edward Sanders Helena Bonham Cater & Johnny Depp Lyrics


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Toby: Ladies and gentlemen!
May I have your attention, perlease?
Do you wake every morning in shame and despair
To discover your pillow is covered with hair
Wot ought not to be there?

Well, ladies and gentlemen
From now on you can waken at ease
You need never again have a worry or care
I will show you a miracle marvelous rare

Gentlemen, you are about to see
Something wot rose from the dead--
On the top of my head!

T'was Pirelli's
Miracle Elixir
That's wot 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!

Sweeney Todd: Pardon me, ma'am, what's that awful stench?

Mrs. Lovett: Are we standing near an open trench?

Mrs. Lovett: Pardon me, sir, what's that awful stench?

Sweeney Todd: Must be standing near an open trench!

Toby: Buy Pirelli's
Miracle Elixir
Anything wot'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?

Sweeney Todd: What is this?

Mrs. Lovett: What is this?

Sweeney Todd: Smells like piss

Mrs. Lovett: Smells like-- phew!

Sweeney Todd: Looks like piss

Mrs. Lovett: Wouldn't touch it if I was you, dear

Sweeney Todd: This is piss
Piss with ink

Toby: Let Pirelli's
Miracle Elixir
Activate your roots, sir--

Sweeney Todd: Keep it off your boots, sir--
Eats right through

Toby: Yes, get Pirelli's!
Use a bottle of it!
Ladies seem to love it--





Mrs. Lovett: Flies do, too!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pirelli's Miracle Elixir present a sales pitch for Pirelli's hair tonic that promises to be a miracle solution for hair growth. The song is introduced by Toby, who calls for the attention of the audience and presents the problem of waking up with hair on the pillow. He then introduces Pirelli's Miracle Elixir and claims that it is a solution that can make people wake up at ease and without a worry. He then showcases his own hair, which he says is the result of the tonic.


The song goes on to describe the product's benefits in a humorous way, with Toby mentioning that the potion rose from the dead and worked like an actual elixir. He then goes on to ask if Pirelli's stimulates hair growth and assures that it is a unique product that guarantees growth. Toby encourages the audience to buy a bottle and promises that slick hair will sprout curls that will make one the pick of the girls.


As the song progresses, Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett interrupt the pitch, complaining of an awful stench. They eventually discover that the elixir is made of piss and ink, which leads the trio to sing the final chorus, encouraging the audience to use the product that activates roots while warning them to keep it off their boots.


Overall, the song presents a humorous take on the idea of miracle hair growth products, showcasing how easily people can be deceived and misled by such products.


Line by Line Meaning

Toby: Ladies and gentlemen!
Toby is addressing the audience with a grand introduction.


May I have your attention, perlease?
Toby is requesting the attention of the audience.


Do you wake every morning in shame and despair
Toby is inquiring whether the audience wakes up every morning feeling embarrassed and hopeless.


To discover your pillow is covered with hair
Toby is referring to the unwanted hair on the pillow after waking up.


Wot ought not to be there?
Toby is asking what should not be there on the pillow.


From now on you can waken at ease
Toby is telling the audience that they can now wake up without any worry.


You need never again have a worry or care
Toby is reassuring the audience that they won't have to worry about unwanted hair in the future.


I will show you a miracle marvelous rare
Toby is presenting the miracle elixir as an extraordinary solution to their hair problems.


Gentlemen, you are about to see
Toby is addressing the male audience specifically, telling them they are about to witness something special.


Something wot rose from the dead--
Toby is introducing his own resurrection, the regrowth of his hair, which he claims was made possible by Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


On the top of my head!
Toby is indicating that his head is where the miracle elixir did its work.


T'was Pirelli's
Toby is referring to Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Miracle Elixir
Toby is emphasizing that the elixir is a miracle solution.


That's wot did the trick, sir
Toby is stating that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir was the solution to his hair problem.


True, sir, true
Toby confirms the truth of his previous statement.


Was it quick, sir?
Toby is inquiring whether Pirelli's Miracle Elixir worked quickly.


Did it in a tick, sir
Toby is affirming that the miracle elixir worked quickly.


Just like an elixir
Toby is comparing Pirelli's Miracle Elixir to other miracle cures.


Ought to do!
Toby is indicating that this is how other miracle cures should work.


How about a bottle, mister?
Toby is attempting to sell a bottle of Pirelli's Miracle Elixir to a man in the audience.


Only costs a penny, guaranteed
Toby guarantees that a bottle of Pirelli's Miracle Elixir will only cost a penny.


Does Pirelli's
Toby is asking if Pirelli's Miracle Elixir has other benefits.


Stimulate the growth, sir?
Toby is inquiring whether the elixir stimulates hair growth.


You can have my oath, sir
Toby is swearing that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir stimulates hair growth.


'Tis unique
Toby is saying that the miracle elixir is a one-of-a-kind solution.


Rub a minute--
Toby is advising to apply the miracle elixir for just a minute.


Stimulatin' i'n' it?
Toby is inquiring whether the application of the elixir is stimulating.


Soon you'll have to thin it
Toby humorously suggests that the hair growth will be so thick, that the person will need to get a haircut regularly.


Once a week!
Toby is suggesting that the person will need to get a haircut every week.


Pardon me, ma'am, what's that awful stench?
Sweeney Todd is inquiring about a bad smell in the air.


Are we standing near an open trench?
Mrs. Lovett suggests that it may be because they are standing near an open trench.


Pardon me, sir, what's that awful stench?
Mrs. Lovett is asking about the smell.


Must be standing near an open trench!
Sweeney Todd agrees with Mrs. Lovett's suggestion that the source of the bad smell is an open trench.


Buy Pirelli's
Toby once again urges the audience to buy Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Anything wot's slick, sir
Toby is suggesting that any problem related to hair or its growth can be solved by Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Soon sprouts curls
Toby suggests that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir will help people grow curly hair quickly.


When they see how thick, sir
Toby suggests that people will see how thick hair growth can be with Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


You can have your pick, sir
Toby is suggesting that the person using Pirelli's Miracle Elixir will have their choice of hair styles or partners.


Of the girls!
Toby is indicating that women will be attracted to the person who uses Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Wanna buy a bottle, missus?
Toby is offering a bottle of Pirelli's Miracle Elixir to a woman in the audience.


What is this?
Sweeney Todd is inquiring about something he sees or smells.


Smells like piss
Sweeney Todd is disgusted by the smell, which he compares to urine.


Smells like-- phew!
Mrs. Lovett agrees with Sweeney Todd that the smell is unpleasant.


Looks like piss
Sweeney Todd comments on the appearance of what may be Pirelli's Miracle Elixir or something else altogether.


Wouldn't touch it if I was you, dear
Mrs. Lovett advises Sweeney Todd not to touch the substance, given how repulsive it smells and looks.


This is piss
Sweeney Todd identifies the substance as urine.


Piss with ink
Sweeney Todd elaborates on the nature of the substance by saying it's urine mixed with ink.


Activate your roots, sir--
Toby is suggesting that the miracle elixir will activate hair roots.


Keep it off your boots, sir--
Sweeney Todd warns someone not to spill the substance on their boots, given its corrosive properties.


Eats right through
Sweeney Todd confirms that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir is capable of eating through surfaces.


Yes, get Pirelli's!
Toby urges the audience once again to get Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Use a bottle of it!
Toby advises people to purchase and use the elixir regularly.


Ladies seem to love it--
Toby is suggesting that women are easily attracted to men who use Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Flies do, too!
Mrs. Lovett sarcastically remarks on the fragrance of the elixir, which even attracts flies.




Contributed by Hudson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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