Wigmaker Sequence: The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: "Sweeney'd Waited Too Long Before" / The Letter

Mr. Todd! Mr. Todd!
I've found her
I found Johanna
You have?

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-
A madhouse! A madhouse!
Johanna is as good as rescued
She is?
Where do you suppose all the wigmakers
Of London go to obtain their human hair?
Where?
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?
Yellow
No, not exact enough
I must make you into a credible wigmaker - and quickly

There's tawny and there's golden saffron
There's flaxen and there's blonde
Repeat that. Repeat that!
Yes, Mr. Todd
Well?

There's tawny and there's golden saffron
There's flaxen and there's blonde
Good
There's coarse and fine
There's straight and curly
There's grey, there's white (There's coarse and fine)
There's ash, there's pearly (There's straight and curly)
There's corn-yellow (There's grey, there's white)
Buff and ochre and (There's ash, there's pearly)
Straw and apricot (There's corn-yellow)

Sweeney'd waited too long before-
"Ah, but never again," he swore
Fortune arrived. "Sweeney!" it sang
Sweeney was ready, and Sweeney sprang
Sweeney's problems went up in smoke
All resolved with a single stroke
Sweeney was sharp, Sweeney was burning
Sweeney began the engines turning
Sweeney's problems went up in smoke (Sweeney!)
All resolved with a single stroke (With a single stroke)
By Sweeney!
Sweeney, Sweeney, Sweeney, Sweeney

With finer textures
Ash looks fairer
Which makes it rare (Good)
But flaxen's rarer (No! No!)
Yes, yes, I know- (The flaxen's cheaper)
Cheaper, not rarer

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
We'll be with you before the evening's out
Good
Thank you, Mr. Todd. Thank you

Most Honorable Judge Turpin—
Most Honorable—
Honorable!
I venture thus to write you this
Urgent
Note to warn you
That the hot-blooded—
Young—
Sailor
Has abducted your ward Johanna—
(Johanna!)
(Johanna!)
From the institution
Where you
So wisely
Confined her
But, hoping to earn your favor
I have persuaded the boy to lodge her here tonight
At my tonsorial parlor
In Fleet Street
If you want her again in your arms
Hurry
After the night falls
She will be waiting
Waiting
Your obedient humble servant
Sweeney Todd