Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
Edwards Sanders Johnny Depp Helena Bonham Carter Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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" from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, sung by Toby, are a clever way to promote a fake hair regrowth elixir. Toby introduces the song by asking the audience if they wake up every day worrying about their hair loss, and proceeds to offer a solution - Pirelli's Miracle Elixir. He claims to have used it himself and it brought his hair back to life, which he proudly displays to the audience. The song then turns into a selling pitch, where Toby is trying to convince everyone to buy Pirelli's for only one penny, and promises that it will stimulate hair growth and attract the ladies. However, when the other characters join in, they expose the elixir as nothing but urine mixed with ink, revealing the scam.


The song is a satire on the snake oil salesman trope, which refers to people selling fake and dangerous medical or therapeutic products to naive customers, which was a prevalent practice in the past. The exaggerated claims made by Toby, his suggestive movements, and the fast rhythm of the song add to the humor of the scene.


Line by Line Meaning

Toby: Ladies and gentlemen!
Toby is addressing the audience.


May I have your attention, perlease?
Toby is asking for the audience's attention.


Do you wake every morning in shame and despair
Toby is asking if the audience is embarrassed when they see the hair on their pillows.


To discover your pillow is covered with hair
Toby is referring to the hair on a person's pillow.


Wot ought not to be there?
Toby is asking about the hair on the pillow.


Well, ladies and gentlemen
Toby is addressing the audience again.


From now on you can waken at ease
Toby is saying that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir will help people feel better about their hair.


You need never again have a worry or care
Toby is saying that people won't have to worry about their hair anymore.


I will show you a miracle marvelous rare
Toby is promising to show the audience an amazing product.


Gentlemen, you are about to see
Toby is addressing the male portion of his audience.


Something wot rose from the dead--
Toby is talking about his own hair, which he claims was previously lost.


On the top of my head!
Toby is indicating his own hair.


T′was Pirelli's
Toby is referring to a product called Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Miracle Elixir
Toby is referring to Pirelli's Miracle Elixir again, indicating that it is a special product.


That′s wot did the trick, sir
Toby is saying that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir is the reason his hair grew back.


True, sir, true
Toby is emphasizing the honesty of his claim regarding Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Was it quick, sir?
Toby is asking if the effectiveness of the product was immediate.


Did it in a tick, sir
Toby is saying that the product worked very quickly.


Just like an elixir
Toby is comparing Pirelli's Miracle Elixir to other quick-working medicines.


Ought to do!
Toby is indicating that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir performed as it should.


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


Only costs a penny, guaranteed
Toby is claiming that the product is inexpensive and effective.


Does Pirelli's
Toby is referring to Pirelli's Miracle Elixir again.


Stimulate the growth, sir?
Toby is asking if Pirelli's Miracle Elixir stimulates hair growth.


You can have my oath, sir
Toby is making a serious promise that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir stimulates hair growth.


'Tis unique
Toby is indicating that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir is one of a kind.


Rub a minute--
Toby is indicating a method of using Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Stimulatin′ i′n' it?
Toby is asking if using Pirelli's Miracle Elixir is exciting or stimulating.


Soon you′ll have to thin it
Toby is suggesting that people's hair will grow so much after using Pirelli's Miracle Elixir that they will need to get a haircut.


Once a week!
Toby is indicating a frequency for haircuts to accommodate the hair growth after using Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Pardon me, ma'am, what′s that awful stench?
Sweeney Todd is asking about a bad smell.


Are we standing near an open trench?
Mrs. Lovett is questioning if they are near a sewage trench.


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


Must be standing near an open trench!
Sweeney Todd thinks that they might be standing close to a sewage trench.


Buy Pirelli′s
Toby is promoting Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Anything wot's slick, sir
Toby is indicating that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir is versatile.


Soon sprouts curls
Toby is saying that after using Pirelli's Miracle Elixir, hair will start to curl.


When they see how thick, sir
Toby is indicating that after using Pirelli's Miracle Elixir, people will like how thick your hair looks.


You can have your pick, sir
Toby is saying that with the benefits of Pirelli's Miracle Elixir, people will have a wide range of hairstyle options.


Of the girls!
Toby is suggesting that people will have no issue attracting female attention with great hair from Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Wanna buy a bottle, missus?
Toby is trying to sell Pirelli's Miracle Elixir to Mrs. Lovett.


What is this?
Sweeney Todd is questioning what he has in his hands.


Smells like piss
Sweeney Todd is saying that the product smells bad.


Smells like-- phew!
Mrs. Lovett agrees that the product smells bad.


Looks like piss
Sweeney Todd is saying that the product looks unpleasant.


Wouldn′t touch it if I was you, dear
Mrs. Lovett is saying that she wouldn't use the product.


This is piss
Sweeney Todd has realized that the product might actually be urine.


Piss with ink
Sweeney Todd is saying that the product is urine mixed with ink.


Let Pirelli′s
Toby is still promoting Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Activate your roots, sir--
Toby is saying that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir will stimulate hair growth in people.


Keep it off your boots, sir--
Sweeney Todd is warning Toby that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir will eat through his boots.


Eats right through
Sweeney Todd is saying that Pirelli's Miracle Elixir is a corrosive substance.


Yes, get Pirelli's!
Toby is promoting Pirelli's Miracle Elixir again.


Use a bottle of it!
Toby is telling people to use a whole bottle of Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Ladies seem to love it--
Toby is suggesting that women will love the results of using Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.


Flies do, too!
Mrs. Lovett is jokingly saying that even flies seem to love Pirelli's Miracle Elixir.




Writer(s): Stephen Sondheim

Contributed by Cole R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@MrMudNugget

Cool thing about this pie is that it differs from person to person.

@reveriemephisto1995

Oh my gosh, that hurts! It's too clever! XD LOL

@jackpowell8307

The only way you would know is if you’ve eaten the pie you cannibal😂

@peterevans6480

wow

@emyleonormorales

😂

@cryptcake596

Nice

48 More Replies...

@GabbyPlaysGames02

Looking back, this is a really sad scene. Toby looks so happy. With everything he’s been through, this is the life he’s always wanted. A loving home. But it’s all a lie.

@ambah5385

STOP NO I KNOW my heart goes to Toby

@saklee1777

its not sad. its a terrifying scene. they’re singing about the pies being so good and theyve got alot of costumers and the costumers are just eating the pies and becoming cannibals without even realizing it. this song gives me goosebumps

@ariadnefrolich7243

She does care for the kid, but from her perspective she's got a good thing going. Her business is doing better than it ever has and she has the man she loves living upstairs. She cares for Toby, but she loves Mr. Todd more and will always choose him. You see this latter in the film when Toby tells her his suspicions about Mr. Todd, she's visibly sad that they'll have to kill Toby, but again, she's not going to risk him warning the authorities and getting herself and Mr. Todd caught.

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