Poor Thing
Helena Bonham Carter Johnny Depp Lyrics
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If times are so hard, why don't you rent it out?
That should bring in something
Up there? Oh, no, I don't go near it
People think it's haunted
You see, years ago, something happened up there, something not very nice.
And he was beautiful
A proper artist with a knife
But they transported him for life
And he was beautiful
Barker, his name was
Benjamin Barker
Transported? What was his crime?
Foolishness
He had this wife, you see
Pretty little thing
Silly little nit
Had her chance for the moon on a string
Poor thing
Poor thing
There were these two, you see
Wanted her like mad
One of 'em a Judge
T'other one his Beadle!
Every day they'd nudge
And they'd wheedle!
But she wouldn't budge
From her needle
Too bad
Pure thing
So they merely shipped the poor blighter off south, they did
Leaving her with nothing but grief and a year-old kid
Did she use her head even then? Oh no, God forbid!
Poor fool
Ah, but there was worse yet to come
Poor thing
Johanna, that was the child's name
Pretty little Johanna
Go on
My, you do like a good story, don't you?
Well, Beadle calls on her, all polite
Poor thing
Poor thing
The Judge, he tells her, is all contrite
He blames himself for her dreadful plight
She must come straight to his house tonight!
Poor thing
Poor thing
Of course when she goes there
Poor thing, poor thing
They're having this ball all in masks
There's no one she knows there
Poor dear, poor thing
She wanders tormented and drinks
Poor thing
The Judge has repented, she thinks
Poor thing
"Oh, where is Judge Turpin?" she asks
He was there, all right
Only not so contrite!
She wasn't no match for such craft, you see
And everyone thought it so droll
They figured she had to be daft, you see
So all of 'em stood there and laughed, you see
Poor soul!
Poor thing!
No! Would no one have mercy on her?
So it is you, Benjamin Barker!
In the song "Poor Thing" by Helena Bonham Carter, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Johnny Depp, the lyrics tell a story about a tragic character named Benjamin Barker. The song begins with a conversation between two characters discussing the possibility of renting a supposedly haunted room above a pie shop. One of the characters warns against it, explaining that something terrible happened there in the past.
It is then revealed that Benjamin Barker, also known as "Barker" in the song, was a skilled barber with a wife. However, he was transported, or sent away, for life due to his involvement in foolishness. His wife, described as a pretty and foolish woman, had opportunities for a better life but ended up living in grief with their young daughter.
Two men, a Judge and a Beadle, desired Barker's wife, and they constantly pressured her to leave her husband. However, she remained faithful, earning the sympathy of the song's narrators, who refer to her as a "pure thing."
Eventually, Barker is sent away, leaving his wife with no support except their young daughter. The singers express their frustration at her inability to use her head and make wiser choices. They emphasize the tragedy of her situation.
The song then takes a darker turn, as Barker's daughter Johanna becomes the focus. The Beadle calls on Johanna and informs her that the Judge is sorry for what happened and invites her to his house that night. Johanna naively believes the Judge has repented, but she is unaware of his true intentions.
At a masked ball held at the Judge's house, Johanna wanders around, tormented and drinking. She realizes that the Judge's repentance was a lie, and she asks for his whereabouts. The song suggests that the Judge had been present at the ball but was not truly remorseful.
As the narrative progresses, it becomes clear that no one comes to Johanna's aid, and she becomes a victim of the cruel intentions of the Judge and others. The song ends with the revelation that the main character, Benjamin Barker, has returned, and someone recognizes him.
Overall, "Poor Thing" tells a tale of tragedy, manipulation, and the inability of the characters to escape their circumstances. It explores themes of abuse of power, innocence, and the consequences of one's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't that a room up there over the pie shop?
Is there a room located above the pie shop?
If times are so hard, why don't you rent it out?
If the economy is struggling, why don't you lease the room?
That should bring in something
That would generate some income
Up there? Oh, no, I don't go near it
No, I avoid going close to that area
People think it's haunted
There is a belief that it is haunted
You see, years ago, something happened up there, something not very nice.
You see, in the past, something unpleasant occurred there
There was a barber and his wife
There was a barber and his spouse
And he was beautiful
And he was exceptionally attractive
A proper artist with a knife
An accomplished artist in the use of a knife
But they transported him for life
But they sentenced him to lifelong transportation
And he was beautiful
And he remained beautiful
Barker, his name was
His name was Barker
Transported? What was his crime?
Transported? What was his offense?
Foolishness
It was foolishness
He had this wife, you see
He had this wife, you understand
Pretty little thing
A charming and delicate individual
Silly little nit
A foolish and insignificant person
Had her chance for the moon on a string
Had the opportunity to attain great success
Poor thing
A pitiable individual
Poor thing
Poor thing
There were these two, you see
There were these two individuals, you see
Wanted her like mad
Desired her fervently
One of 'em a Judge
One of them was a Judge
T'other one his Beadle!
The other one was his Beadle!
Every day they'd nudge
Every day they would persistently persuade
And they'd wheedle!
And they would coax!
But she wouldn't budge
But she would not yield
From her needle
From her task of sewing
Too bad
It is regrettable
Pure thing
Innocent thing
So they merely shipped the poor blighter off south, they did
So they simply transported the unfortunate man south, they did
Leaving her with nothing but grief and a year-old kid
Leaving her with only sorrow and a one-year-old child
Did she use her head even then? Oh no, God forbid!
Did she make wise decisions even then? Oh no, may God prevent it!
Poor fool
A pitiable fool
Ah, but there was worse yet to come
Ah, but there was even worse to follow
Poor thing
Poor thing
Johanna, that was the child's name
Johanna, that was the name of the child
Pretty little Johanna
A beautiful young Johanna
Go on
Continue
My, you do like a good story, don't you?
My, you certainly enjoy a compelling narrative, don't you?
Well, Beadle calls on her, all polite
Well, the Beadle visits her, in a courteous manner
Poor thing
Poor thing
Poor thing
Poor thing
The Judge, he tells her, is all contrite
The Judge informs her that he is deeply remorseful
He blames himself for her dreadful plight
He holds himself responsible for her terrible situation
She must come straight to his house tonight!
She must immediately go to his residence tonight!
Poor thing
Poor thing
Poor thing
Poor thing
Of course when she goes there
Naturally, when she arrives there
Poor thing, poor thing
Unfortunate soul, unfortunate thing
They're having this ball all in masks
They are hosting a masked ball
There's no one she knows there
There is no one she recognizes there
Poor dear, poor thing
Poor dear, poor thing
She wanders tormented and drinks
She aimlessly walks around in anguish and consumes alcohol
Poor thing
Poor thing
The Judge has repented, she thinks
She believes that the Judge has repented
Poor thing
Poor thing
"Oh, where is Judge Turpin?" she asks
"Oh, where is Judge Turpin?" she inquires
He was there, all right
He certainly was present
Only not so contrite!
Except he was not as remorseful as claimed!
She wasn't no match for such craft, you see
She was no match for such cunning, you understand
And everyone thought it so droll
And everyone found it amusing
They figured she had to be daft, you see
They concluded she must be foolish, you understand
So all of 'em stood there and laughed, you see
So all of them remained there and laughed, you understand
Poor soul!
Sorrowful individual!
Poor thing!
Poor thing!
No! Would no one have mercy on her?
No! Would no one show compassion towards her?
So it is you, Benjamin Barker!
So it is you, Benjamin Barker!
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC INC
Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind