Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
Helena Bonham Carter & Johnny Depp Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

Ladies and gentlemen!
May I have your attention, please?
Do you wake every morning in shame and despair
To discover your pillow is covered with hair
What 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
That rose from the dead
On the top of my head

Scarcely a month ago, gentlemen
I was struck with a horrible
Dermatologic disease
Though the finest physicians in London were called
I awakened one morning amazed and appalled
To discover with dread that my head was as bald
As a novice's knees
I was dying of shame
'Til a gentleman came
An illustrious barber, Pirelli by name
He give me a liquid as precious as gold
I rubbed it in daily like what I was told
And behold!
Only thirty days old!

'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

Penny buys a bottle, I don't know (go ahead and tug, sir)
You don't need (go ahead, sir, harder)
Ah, let's go!

Does Pirelli's
Stimulate the growth, sir?
You can have my oath, sir
'Tis unique
Rub a minute
Stimulating, innit?
Soon you'll have to thin it
Once a week!

Penny buys a bottle, guaranteed!
Penny buys a bottle, might as well (how about a sample?)
(Wotcher think?) Have you ever smelled a cleaner smell?
Isn't it a crime they let these urchins clog the pavement?
Penny buys a bottle, does it? (That's enough, sir, ample) (Go ahead and try it, what the hell)

Gently dab it
Gets to be a habit
Soon there'll be enough, sir
Somebody can grab it
See that chap with
Hair like Shelley's?
You can tell he's
Used Pirelli's

Let me have a bottle
Make that two
Pardon me, ma'am, what's that awful stench? (Then again I could get some for Harry)
Are we standing near an open trench? (How about a beer?)
Must be standing near an open trench (you know a pub?)
Bye, bye (I'm just passing by) (there's one close by) (pass it by)

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

Want to buy a bottle, missus?
What is this?
Propagates the hair, sir (what is this?)
(Penny for a bottle)
Smells like piss (what was that?)
Smells like-phew! (He says it smells like piss)
Looks like piss (says it smells like piss) (would not touch it if I was you, dear!)
(Wotcher think?)
How about a sample, mister? (This is piss)
Piss with ink!
Let me smell that bottle
I don't want no ink piss!
What is this? (Never mind that madman, mister) (What does that smell like to you, sir?)
Give us back our money!
Give 'em back their money! (What does that smell like to you ma'am?)
Where is this Pirelli?
Yeah, where is this Pirelli?

Let Pirelli's
Activate your roots, sir
Keep it off your boots, sir
Eats right through
(Go and get Pirelli!)
Yes, get Pirelli's!
Use a bottle of it
Ladies seem to love it
Flies do, too!

Hand the bloody money over!
Hand the bloody money over!

See Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
Grow a little wick, sir
Then some fuzz
The Pirelli's
Soon'll make it thick, sir
Like a good elixir
Always does!
Trust Pirelli's
If your hair is sick, sir
Fix it in the nick, sir
Don't look grim
Just Pirelli's Miracle Elixir
That'll do the trick, sir
(What about the money?)
If you've got a kick, sir
What about the money?
Where is this Pirelli?
Go and get Pirelli!
What about our money? (Tell it to the mixer of the Miracle Elixir)




If you've got a kick, sir! (Where's Pirelli?)
Talk to him!

Overall Meaning

The song "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" is a comedic and satirical number performed by Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp in the 2007 film adaptation of the musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." The song serves as a tongue-in-cheek advertisement for a hair tonic called Pirelli's Miracle Elixir. In the song, Pirelli claims that his elixir can cure baldness and stimulate hair growth, presenting himself as a living example of its effectiveness.


The lyrics begin with Pirelli addressing the audience and emphasizing their common experience of waking up to find their pillows covered in unwanted hair. He promises that his elixir can alleviate their worries and cares, presenting it as a miraculous and rare solution that has brought hair back to his own head. Pirelli recounts his past struggle with a dermatologic disease and how the elixir, given to him by Pirelli himself, helped him regrow his hair within thirty days. The chorus repeats the praises of Pirelli's Miracle Elixir and offers bottles for a penny, claiming guaranteed results.


As the song progresses, the lyrics take a comedic turn, with characters questioning the validity of Pirelli's claims and making humorous remarks. They joke about the possibility of the elixir smelling like urine and suggest that it might not live up to its promises. As the crowd becomes skeptical, Pirelli and his supporters grow defensive and demand payment for the elixir.


Overall, "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" is a playful and exaggerated advertisement that highlights the absurdity of miracle cures and the gullibility of people seeking quick fixes. It satirizes the exploitation of people's insecurities and the false promises made by charlatans.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@alright7887

Ladies and gentlemen
May I have your attention please?
Do you wake every morning in shame and despair
To discover your pillow is covered with hair
What ought not to be there?
Well, ladies and gentlemen
From now on you can waken with 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 that 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

[TOBIAS]
Does Pirelli's stimulate the growth, sir?
You can have my oath, sir
'Tis unique
Rub a minute
Stimulating, in'it?
Soon you'll have to thin it
Once a week
Penny buys a bottle, guaranteed

[TODD]
Pardon me, ma'am, what's that awful stench?

[MRS. LOVETT]
Are we standing near an open trench?

[TOBIAS]
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?

[TODD]
What is this?

[MRS. LOVETT]
What is this?


[TODD]
Smells like piss

[MRS. LOVETT]
Smells like—phew!

[TODD]
This is piss. Piss with ink

[TOBIAS]
Let Pirelli's
Activate your roots, sir

[TODD]
Keep it off your boots, sir
Eats right through

[TOBIAS]
Yes, get Pirelli's
Use a bottle of it
Ladies seem to love it

[MRS LOVETT]
Flies do too



All comments from YouTube:

@always_be_you6099

Pirelli: Okay Toby so we are going to pee in all these bottles and learn a catchy song to sell them

@traceyrobertson3406

Haha Haha and ink

@goodwill7643

@Tracey Robertson so you learn marketing :)

@gamesfan290

marketing companies in a nutshell

@cathat9059

Oh and don’t forget to and the ink

@oliverf.68

Toby: "I shall need lots of gin to fill them all Master Pirelli".
Pirelli: "And lower my profits? You're getting water !!!!"
Hahahaha

4 More Replies...

@brittanybroquadio8846

"Smells like piss......this is piss. piss with ink" Oh Sweeney

@littlemissie7978

Most amusing line in the film I thought. :p

@lesliemorganking3283

At least it was unique. :D XD 😆😆

@chaosmastermind

It probably literally is.

More Comments

More Versions