Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
Edwards Sanders Johnny Depp & Helena Bonham Carter 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 song "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" from the Broadway musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is performed by Toby, Mrs. Lovett, and Sweeney Todd. The song is a satirical advertisement for Pirelli's hair tonic elixir, which they claim can solve all hair problems overnight. Toby, an orphan in Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop, acts as the salesman for this fictional product, while Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett poke fun at its supposed benefits. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that Pirelli’s elixir is nothing more than a cheap substitute made from urine mixed with ink, and it has a truly unpleasant smell.


The "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" is a brilliant example of how a musical can be used to satirize a real-world issue, in this case, the hair tonic industry. The song’s lyrics reflect how products (in this case, hair tonic) are marketed with extravagant promises, but in reality, they might contain harmful substances that can do more damage than good. By using humor, the songwriters were able to draw attention to this issue in a creative and engaging way, while also providing catchy and entertaining music.


Line by Line Meaning

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


May I have your attention, perlease?
The singer is requesting the audience's attention.


Do you wake every morning in shame and despair
The singer is asking if the audience wakes up feeling ashamed and unhappy.


To discover your pillow is covered with hair
The artist is referring to excessive hair loss.


Wot ought not to be there?
The artist is asking the audience what they think about the hair on their pillows.


From now on you can waken at ease
The singer is offering a solution to the problem of hair loss.


You need never again have a worry or care
The singer is reassuring the audience that their hair loss problems are over.


I will show you a miracle marvelous rare
The artist is about to introduce a solution to hair loss.


Gentlemen, you are about to see
The artist is addressing the male members of the audience.


Something wot rose from the dead--
The artist is talking about a product that has been resurrected.


On the top of my head!
The singer is pointing to his own head where the product had been used.


T'was Pirelli's
The artist is introducing the product that they had been talking about.


Miracle Elixir
The singer is trying to create a brand name for the product.


That's wot did the trick, sir
The singer is stating that the product is the actual solution to hair loss.


True, sir, true
The singer is insisting that what they are saying about the product is true.


Was it quick, sir?
The artist is asking about the quickness of the product's results.


Did it in a tick, sir
The artist is saying that the product works very quickly.


Just like an elixir
The singer is comparing the product to an elixir.


Ought to do!
The singer is suggesting that the product should work fast.


How about a bottle, mister?
The artist is offering the product to a man.


Only costs a penny, guaranteed
The artist is stating the price of the product and insisting that it will work.


Does Pirelli's
The artist is asking a question about the product.


Stimulate the growth, sir?
The singer is asking whether the product promotes hair growth.


You can have my oath, sir
The artist is swearing that the product will promote hair growth.


'Tis unique
The singer is saying that the product is one of a kind.


Rub a minute--
The singer is giving a directive to the audience.


Stimulatin' i'n' it?
The singer is asking if the audience feels stimulated.


Soon you'll have to thin it
The artist is suggesting that the audience will need to manage their hair growth as it will be too much.


Once a week!
The artist is suggesting a time-frame for hair management.


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


Are we standing near an open trench?
Mrs. Lovett is uncertain of the cause of the bad smell.


Pardon me, sir, what's that awful stench?
Mr. Todd is asking Toby about the bad smell.


Must be standing near an open trench!
Mr. Todd is guessing the cause of the bad smell.


Buy Pirelli's
The artist is promoting the product.


Anything wot's slick, sir
The singer is saying that the product will help your hair grow faster.


Soon sprouts curls
The artist is suggesting that the product will make your hair curly.


Try Pirelli's!
The singer is encouraging the audience to try the product.


When they see how thick, sir
The singer is suggesting that people will be amazed by how thick the audience's hair will become.


You can have your pick, sir
The singer is suggesting that the audience will have a choice of romantic partners.


Of the girls!
The artist is referring to female romantic partners.


Wanna buy a bottle, missus?
The artist is offering the product to a woman.


What is this?
Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett are querying the quality of the product.


Smells like piss
Mr. Todd is stating that the product smells bad.


Smells like-- phew!
Mrs. Lovett is agreeing with Mr. Todd that the product smells terrible.


Looks like piss
Mr. Todd is commenting on the appearance of the product.


Wouldn't touch it if I was you, dear
Mrs. Lovett is recommending against using the product.


This is piss
Mr. Todd is confirming that the product smells and looks like urine.


Piss with ink
Mr. Todd is suggesting that the product has ink added to it to make it look like a genuine elixir.


Let Pirelli's
The singer is promoting the product once more.


Activate your roots, sir--
The singer is stating that the product will help with hair growth.


Keep it off your boots, sir--
Mr. Todd is suggesting that the product is corrosive and will damage your boots.


Eats right through
Mr. Todd is stating that the product is very corrosive.


Yes, get Pirelli's!
The artist is insisting that the audience should buy the product.


Use a bottle of it!
The singer is suggesting how much of the product should be used.


Ladies seem to love it--
The singer is saying that women appear to be attracted to people who use the product.


Flies do, too!
Mrs. Lovett is sarcastically suggesting that the product is so terrible that even flies are attracted to it.




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