File under truth being stranger than fiction

[zebralittle52]

Lady Douji passed this link onto me. The real account of Sweeney Todd: The "Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

And here I'd always thought it was urban legend! *turns a little green* Ewww...


'The Ballad of Sweeney Todd' By Stephen Sondheim

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.
His skin was pale, and his eye was odd.
He shaved the faces of gentlemen
who never thereafter were heard of again.
He trod a path that few had trod,
did Sweeney Todd,
the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

He kept a shop in London Town
of fancy clients and good renown.
And what if none of their souls were saved?
They went to their Maker impeccably shaved
by Sweeney, by Sweeney Todd
the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Swing your razor wide, Sweeney,
hold it to the skies!
Freely flows the blood of those who moralize.

His needs were few, his room was bare:
a lavabo and a fancy chair,
a mug of suds and a leather strop,
an apron, a towel, a pail and a mop.
For neatness he deserved a nod,
did Sweeney Todd,
the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Inconspicuous, Sweeney was,
quick and quiet and clean, he was.
Back of his smile, under his word,
Sweeney heard music that nobody heard.
Sweeney pondered, and Sweeney planned,
like a perfect machine, he planned.
Sweeney was smooth, Sweeney was subtle
Sweeney would blink, and rats would scuttle.
Sweeney, Sweeney, Sweeney, Sweeney, Sweeney!

Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.
He served a dark and hungry god.
To seek revenge may lead to hell,
but everyone does it, and seldom as well
as Sweeney
as Sweeney Todd
the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.


Is it any wonder I could see Farfarello digging this music, especially there at the end?