Poor Thing
Johnny Depp & Helena Boham Carter Lyrics

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Isn't that a room up there over the pie shop?
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.

There was a barber and his wife
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!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics from the song "Poor Thing" by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter delve into the tragic tale of Benjamin Barker, a skilled barber unjustly transported for a crime and his beautiful wife, who faces a harrowing fate in his absence. The narrative unfolds as a conversation between two characters, one suggesting renting out a room over the pie shop but the other recoiling at the mention of it being haunted due to a disturbing event that occurred there years ago.

The story continues with the depiction of Barker as a talented artist with a knife who was wrongfully transported for life. His wife, described as a pretty yet foolish woman, falls victim to the unwanted advances of a Judge and his Beadle, ultimately leading to her tragic downfall. Despite the attempts to lure her away from her needlework, she stands her ground, displaying strength and resilience but ultimately succumbing to the manipulative schemes of the Judge.

As the narrative unfolds, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the Judge's deceitful actions, luring the wife to his house under false pretenses, where she is subjected to a masked ball filled with torment and deception. The wife, portrayed as a naive and helpless figure, becomes a laughingstock among those who attend the ball, highlighting the cruelty and lack of empathy in their society towards her plight.

The poignant portrayal of the wife's vulnerability and the manipulative powers at play in her tragic story evokes a sense of sympathy and indignation towards her fate. The lyrics serve as a haunting reminder of the injustices and cruelties that can be inflicted upon individuals, particularly those who are marginalized and defenseless in the face of societal power dynamics. Through its intricate storytelling and emotional depth, "Poor Thing" exposes the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of unchecked authority and manipulation.

Line by Line Meaning

Isn't that a room up there over the pie shop?
Is that room upstairs available to rent out?

If times are so hard, why don't you rent it out?
If you're struggling financially, why not make some money by renting it out?

That should bring in something
That would provide some much-needed income

Transported? What was his crime?
Sentenced to transportation for life; what was his offense?

Foolishness
His foolishness led to his punishment

Poor thing
She was pitied for her situation

Too bad
It was unfortunate

Pure thing
She was naive and innocent

Poor fool
She made a foolish decision

Pure thing
Her innocence

Poor soul!
She was a pitiable person