No Place Like London
Johnny Depp Jamie Campbell Bower Lyrics
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From the Dardenells, to the mountains of Peru
But there′s no place like London!
No, there's no place like London.
Mr. Todd?
You will learn.
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 the privileged few
Making mock of the vermin in the lower zoo
Turning beauty to filth and greed...
I too have sailed the world and seen its wonders,
For the cruelty of men is as wonderous as Peru
But there's no place like London!
Is everything alright, Mr. Todd?
I beg your indulgence, Anthony. My mind is far from easy. In these once-familiar streets... I feel shadows, everywhere.
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 pious vulture of the law
Who, 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!
And the lady, sir? Did she succumb?
Oh, that was many years ago.
I doubt if anyone would know...
I′d like to thank you Anthony. If you hadn′t spotted me, I'd be lost on the ocean still.
Will I see you again?
You might find me if you like; around Fleet Street, I wouldn′t wonder.
Until then, my friend.
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 to "No Place Like London" by Johnny Depp and Jamie Campbell Bower's song are poetic and evocative. The song opens with the singer, who has traveled the world, proclaiming that "there's no place like London." However, this statement is quickly contradicted by the lyrics that follow, which describe the city as a "great black pit" filled with "the vermin of the world." The singer goes on to describe the privileged few who sit at the top of the hole, mocking those below.
The song takes on a dark, gothic tone as it chronicles the tale of a barber and his wife, who is described as "beautiful" and "virtuous." The barber is foolish and naive, and his life is forever changed when a "vulture of the law" removes him from the picture. The lyrics are vague about what happens to the wife, but it's suggested that she falls and is lost in the great black pit.
The song ends with the singer thanking his friend Anthony for rescuing him and suggesting that he might be found around Fleet Street. The final lyrics repeat the idea that London is a great black pit filled with vermin and people who are "filled with shit."
Line by Line Meaning
I have sailed the world, beheld its wonders
I have traveled the world and seen its marvels.
From the Dardenells, to the mountains of Peru
I've been to places like the Dardenelles and the mountains of Peru.
But there′s no place like London!
However, there's nowhere like London!
No, there's no place like London.
I reiterate, there's nowhere like London.
Mr. Todd?
Excuse me, Mr. Todd?
You are young. Life has been kind to you.
You are but a young lad, and life has been gracious to you.
You will learn.
You will come to the realization.
There′s a hole in the world like a great black pit
The world has a sizeable cavity, black as night.
And the vermin of the world inhabit it
And insects that symbolize the world's derogatory people, occupy the hole.
And its morals aren't worth what a pig could spit
Its ethics and principles are no better than what a pig would consider worthless.
And it goes by the name of London.
This dark pit is none other than London.
At the top of the hole sit the privileged few
At the top of the hole resides the advantaged elite.
Making mock of the vermin in the lower zoo
They ridicule those below them in this zoo-like hole.
Turning beauty to filth and greed...
Making laudable things vile and corrupting.
I too have sailed the world and seen its wonders,
Like Johnny Depp, I have traveled the globe and witnessed its splendid beauty.
For the cruelty of men is as wonderous as Peru
In fact, the brutality of humans can be just as extraordinary as the Peruvian landscape.
But there's no place like London!
Yet, there's nowhere like London!
Is everything alright, Mr. Todd?
Are you doing well, Mr. Todd?
I beg your indulgence, Anthony. My mind is far from easy. In these once-familiar streets... I feel shadows, everywhere.
Please excuse me, Anthony. I'm not at ease as I sense darkness in the once-familiar streets.
There was a barber and his wife
Once upon a time, there was a barber and his wife.
And she was beautiful...
And the wife was charming...
A foolish barber and his wife.
He was a naïve barber, and she was his wife.
She was his reason and his life...
She was his purpose and the joy of his life...
And she was beautiful, and she was virtuous
She was lovely, and her morals were impeccable.
And he was naive.
And he was unworldly.
There was another man who saw. That she was beautiful...
Another man had taken a liking to her beauty...
A pious vulture of the law
He was a legal vulture, seemingly righteous.
Who, with a gesture of his claw
With a mere swipe of his hand...
Removed the barber from his plate!
He scooped the life out of the barber!
Then there was nothing but to wait!
From that point, there was nothing to do but wait in anticipation.
And she would fall!
Eventually, she would crumble!
So soft!
She would fall tenderly!
So young!
She was so youthful!
So lost and oh so beautiful!
She was bewildered but still enchanting!
And the lady, sir? Did she succumb?
And the lady, sir? Did she meet her doom?
Oh, that was many years ago. I doubt if anyone would know...
Oh, that happened such a long time ago, that even I doubt anyone's aware.
I′d like to thank you Anthony. If you hadn′t spotted me, I'd be lost on the ocean still.
'Thank you,' Anthony, for discovering me. If you hadn't, I'd still be lost at sea.
Will I see you again?
Will we meet again?
You might find me if you like; around Fleet Street, I wouldn′t wonder.
You could likely locate me if you search around Fleet Street.
Until then, my friend.
Until we meet again, my friend.
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
The world does carry a cavern like a pitch-black abyss.
And it′s filled with people who are filled with shit!
The hole is crammed with humans filled with crap!
And the vermin of the world inhabit it...
The scummiest of people dwell in this hole within Earth's surface.
Writer(s): Stephen Sondheim
Contributed by Colton T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.