02 No Place Like London
Johnny Depp Jamie Campbell Bower Lyrics
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From the Dardanelles to the mountains of Peru
But there's no place like London!
No there's no place like London
You are young
Life has been kind to you
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
And the vermin of the world inhabit it
And its morals aren't worth what a pig could spit
And it goes by the name of London
At the top of the hole sit a privileged few
Making mock of the vermin in the lonely zoo
Turning beauty into filth and greed
I too have sailed the world and seen its wonders
For the cruelty of men is as wondrous as Peru
But there's no place like London
There was a barber and his wife
And she was beautiful
A foolish barber and his wife
She was his reason and his life
And she was beautiful
And she was virtuous
And he was naive
There was another man who saw
That she was beautiful
A biased vulture of the law
And with a gesture of his claw
Removed the barber from his plate
Then there was nothing but to wait
And she would fall
So soft, so young, so lost
And oh so beautiful
Oh, that was many years ago
I doubt if anyone would know
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
And it's filled with people who are filled with shit
And the vermin of the world inhabit it
The lyrics of "No Place Like London" from the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, sung by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, depict the contrasting experiences and perspectives of two characters, Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett, as they reflect on the city of London. The song begins with Sweeney Todd stating that he has traveled the world and witnessed its wonders, from the Dardanelles to the mountains of Peru. However, despite these journeys, Todd asserts that there is no place like London. This statement sets the tone for the subsequent verses, which delve into the darker aspects of the city.
Todd describes London as a hole, inhabited by the vermin of the world, referring to the corrupt and immoral individuals who thrive in the city. He criticizes their lack of values, comparing them unfavorably to the worthlessness of a pig's saliva. Todd observes that the privileged few at the top of the hole mock and degrade the less fortunate, turning beauty into ugliness and greed. He acknowledges his own exposure to the world's cruelties and wonders, concluding that despite all he has seen, London remains unparalleled.
The song then shifts focus to the tragic story of the barber and his wife. The barber's wife is described as beautiful, virtuous, and the purpose of his life. However, another man, a figure of authority, vengefully separates the barber from his wife and leaves her vulnerable. The lyrics suggest that years have passed, and the outcome of this story remains unknown.
Overall, "No Place Like London" describes London as a city that combines both wonder and darkness, beauty and corruption. Through these lyrics, Sweeney Todd expresses his disdain for the social hierarchy and moral decay of the city, contrasting it with the idealized image of his wife.
Line by Line Meaning
I have sailed the world, beheld its wonders
I have traveled extensively, witnessed the amazing sights of various places
From the Dardanelles to the mountains of Peru
From the strait of Dardanelles to the Andes Mountains in Peru
But there's no place like London!
Despite my travels, London holds a unique significance
No there's no place like London
I reiterate, there is truly no place like London
You are young
You are still in your youth
Life has been kind to you
Life has treated you well
You will learn
You will acquire knowledge and understanding
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
There is a metaphorical void in the world, dark and deep
And the vermin of the world inhabit it
And the lowest, most despicable individuals occupy this space
And its morals aren't worth what a pig could spit
And the ethical standards of this place hold no value whatsoever
And it goes by the name of London
And this place is none other than London
At the top of the hole sit a privileged few
At the pinnacle of this abyss reside a select, privileged group
Making mock of the vermin in the lonely zoo
Mocking and ridiculing the despicable people trapped in this lonely prison
Turning beauty into filth and greed
Corrupting goodness and beauty with impurity and avarice
I too have sailed the world and seen its wonders
Like me, I have explored the world and witnessed its marvels
For the cruelty of men is as wondrous as Peru
Because the extent of human cruelty is as astonishing as the wonders of Peru
But there's no place like London
Yet, despite all this, London remains unmatched
There was a barber and his wife
Once upon a time, there existed a barber and his wife
And she was beautiful
And she possessed remarkable beauty
A foolish barber and his wife
A barber who was naive and foolish, and his wife
She was his reason and his life
She was the purpose and essence of his existence
And she was beautiful
And she possessed exquisite beauty
And she was virtuous
And she possessed great moral integrity
And he was naive
And he was lacking in worldly wisdom
There was another man who saw
However, there was another man who noticed
That she was beautiful
That she possessed remarkable beauty
A biased vulture of the law
A corrupt figure in a position of legal authority
And with a gesture of his claw
And with a cunning move he made
Removed the barber from his plate
He eliminated the barber from his path
Then there was nothing but to wait
Then there was nothing left to do but to wait
And she would fall
And she would succumb to his manipulations
So soft, so young, so lost
So gentle, so youthful, so utterly misguided
And oh so beautiful
And oh, so incredibly beautiful
Oh, that was many years ago
Oh, that occurred a long time in the past
I doubt if anyone would know
I highly doubt that anyone still remembers
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
Once again, there exists a void in the world, dark and deep
And it's filled with people who are filled with shit
And it's occupied by individuals who are full of worthlessness
And the vermin of the world inhabit it
And the lowest, most despicable individuals occupy this space
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind