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Wigmaker Sequence / The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: ”Sweeney’d Waited Too Long Before” / The Letter Lyrics by Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Original Cast Recording)

1979

[ANTHONY, spoken]
Mr. Todd, Mr. Todd! I found her! I found Johanna!
[TODD, spoken]
You have?
[ANTHONY, spoken]
That monster of a judge has had her locked away in Fogg's Asylum! Oh, Mr. Todd, she's in there with those screeching, gibbering maniacs—
[TODD, spoken]
A madhouse! A madhouse!
Johanna is as good as rescued. 
[ANTHONY, spoken]
She is?
[TODD, spoken]
Where do you suppose all the wigmakers of London go to obtain their human hair?
[ANTHONY, spoken]
Where?
[TODD, spoken]
Bedlam! They get their hair from the lunatics at Bedlam. For the right amount, they'll sell you the hair off any madman's head. Come, we will write a letter arranging a visit and offering to this Mr. Fogg the highest price for hair of the exact shade of Johanna's—which I trust you know?
[ANTHONY, spoken]
Yellow?
[TODD, spoken]
No, not exact enough!
I must make you into a credible wigmaker—and quickly. 
(sung)
There's tawny, and there's golden saffron
There's flaxen, and there's blonde
(spoken)
Repeat that. Repeat that!
[ANTHONY, spoken]
Yes, Mr. Todd!
[TODD, spoken]
Well?
[ANTHONY]
There's tawny, and there's golden saffron
There's flaxen and there's blonde
[TODD]
Good
There's coarse and fine
There's straight and curly
There's gray, there's white
There's ash, there's pearly
[ANTHONY]
There's coarse and fine
There's straight and curly
[TODD]
There's corn-yellow
Buff and ochre and
Straw and apricot...
[ANTHONY]
There's gray, there's white
There's ash, there's pearly
There's corn-yellow...
[SOLO ALTO & SOLO TENOR]
Sweeney'd waited too long before—
"Ah, but never again," he swore
[SOLO BARITONE & SOLO BASS]
Fortune arrived. "Sweeney!" it sang
Sweeney was ready and Sweeney sprang
[SOLO ALTO & SOLO TENOR]
Sweeney's problems went up in smoke
All resolved with a single stroke
[SOLO BARITONE & SOLO BASS]
Sweeney was sharp, Sweeney was burning
Sweeney began the engines turning
[QUINTET, variously]
Sweeney's problems went up in smoke
All resolved
And completely solved
With a single stroke
By Sweeney!
Sweeney didn't wait
Not Sweeney!
Set the bait
Did Sweeney!
Sweeney! Sweeney! Sweeney!
[ANTHONY]
With finer textures
Ash looks fairer
[TODD, spoken]
Good. 
[ANTHONY]
Which makes it rare
But flaxen's rarer—
[TODD]
No, no!
The flaxen's cheaper...
[ANTHONY]
Yes, yes, I know—
Cheaper, not rarer
[TODD, spoken]
Now off with you, off! But Anthony, listen to me once again. When you have rescued her, bring her back here. I shall guard her while you hire the chaise to Plymouth. 
[ANTHONY, spoken]
We'll be with you before the evening's out. 
[TODD, spoken]
Good. 
[ANTHONY, spoken]
Thank you, Mr. Todd. Thank you. 
[SOLO BASS]
Most Honorable Judge Turpin—
[SOLO TENOR]
Most Honorable—
[SOLO SOPRANO & ALTO]
Honorable!
[SOLO BASS]
I venture thus to write you this
[SOLO BARITONE & BASS]
Urgent
[SOLO BARITONE]
Note to warn you
[SOLO BARITONE & BASS]
That the hot-blooded—
[QUINTET]
Young—
[SOLO BARITONE & BASS]
Sailor
[SOLO SOPRANO & ALTO]
Has abducted your ward Johanna—
[SOLO BARITONE & BASS]
(Johanna!)
[SOLO TENOR]
(Johanna!)
[SOLO SOPRANO & ALTO]
From the institution
Where you
[SOLO TENOR, BARITONE & BASS]
So wisely
[SOLO SOPRANO & ALTO]
Confined her
[SOLO BARITONE]
But, hoping to earn your favor
[SOLO TENOR & BARITONE]
I have persuaded the boy to lodge her here tonight
[SOLO TENOR, BARITONE & BASS]
At my tonsorial parlor
[SOLO ALTO, TENOR, BARITONE & BASS]
In Fleet Street
[QUINTET]
If you want her again in your arms
Hurry
After the night falls
[SOLO TENOR]
She will be waiting
[SOLO SOPRANO, ALTO, BARITONE & BASS]
Waiting...
[SOLO BARITONE & BASS]
Your obedient humble servant
[TODD]
Sweeney Todd
Credits
Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd

Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd

About “Wigmaker Sequence / The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: ”Sweeney’d Waited Too Long Before” / The Letter” by Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd

Read the complete lyrics to "Wigmaker Sequence / The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: ”Sweeney’d Waited Too Long Before” / The Letter" by Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd from the album "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Original Cast Recording)" in 1979. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Broadway, Musicals, Pop.

"Wigmaker Sequence / The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: ”Sweeney’d Waited Too Long Before” / The Letter" is performed by Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd. from the album "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Original Cast Recording)" in 1979 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Wigmaker Sequence / The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: ”Sweeney’d Waited Too Long Before” / The Letter", explore more songs by Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Wigmaker Sequence / The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: ”Sweeney’d Waited Too Long Before” / The Letter" is credited to Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Wigmaker Sequence / The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: ”Sweeney’d Waited Too Long Before” / The Letter" appears on "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Original Cast Recording)" in 1979.

Visit the Original Broadway Cast of Sweeney Todd artist page at /artist/original-broadway-cast-of-sweeney-todd for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.