Skylar Derthick

SONG ANALYSIS WORKSHEET

Song Title: God, That's Good
Composer and Lyricist: Stephen Sondheim
Style of music (jazz, rock, classical, etc.): Pedantic Golden Age
Style of the song (uptempo, ballad, comedy, torch, etc.) Uptempo Seriocomic
Original source (from what show, film, etc.) From the original 1979 broadway production of Sweeny
Todd.
Song written in what year: 1979
Song structure (i.e. Intro,A,A,B,A,coda, etc.) A, A, B, A, B, C, A, A, A, B, D, D, B, E, B, A
Composer info (style, influence, politics, etc) Stephen Joshua Sondheim was born on March 22, 1930 in
New York City, the only child of the jewish american Herbert and Janet Fox Gondheim. His parents
owned a clothing company and both were heavily involved in the business but he had an estranged
relationship as they devorced when he was ten.Stephen Sondheim studied piano and organ, and at the
age of 15, he wrote a musical at the George School in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Under the tutelage of
Oscar Hammerstein II, he studied musical theater and while at Williams College he began to write his
own shows, then studied further in New York City with musician Milton Babbitt.He made his first
significant mark on Broadway, as a lyricist for Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, which opened in
1957, then writing lyrics for Gypsy (1959; music by Jewel Stine).Sondheim would become known as one
of the most successful broadway composers of the 20th century, his show's Into the Woods, Company,
Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along, and Sweeny Todd winning him a total of 8
academy awards.
Describe the character(s) who sang this song: Sweeny Todd is seeking his revenge against the Judge who
stole from him his wife and his livelihood, Misses Luvit is seeking private financial gain as she has never
acheived success with her business, Tobias is ignorant in his actions and only helps as he has been
befriended by Luvit after his master was unknowingly to Toby, murdered. The ensemble is desperate,
poverty struck, hungry, and is unknowingly devouring human flesh, becoming more savage with every
bite.
Original context of song (how did the song function dramatically) This is the first time in the show that
the plot allows Sweeny to enact his revenge and his darker impulses, in addition, his relationship with
Misses Luvit is temporarily strengthened as they are conspiring against the town of London for private
gain. There is such dramatic irony as the audience is able to see the hidden meanings in the lyrics as they
watch individuals become murdered and turned into food, while thos people who are consuming the
meat pies are showing their darker, more savage impulses.
Describe the song rhythmically (regular, irregular, jagged melodic lines, long flowing
lines, etc.) There is endless contrast and shifts in dramatic moods that is contrasted in changes in
rythems, from regulr to irregular, from jagged melodic lines, to long flowing lines such as the upbeat
theme "Misses' Luvit's Meat Pies"/
Describe the imagery in the song (is there a central image? Is the image predominantly
of nature? Of the sea? Of cities? Of animals?) There is obviosuly the dramatic irony of watching
individuals crave what hey do not know to be human meat, there is the imagery of humans reaching
darker and previously thought to be impossibly evil behaviors by Sweeny, Levitt, and the even the
Ensemble.

Write out the lyrics on the back of this sheet and highlight or underline the rhymes
Annotations

[TOBY]
Ladies and gentlemen
May I have your attention, perlease?
Are your nostrils a-quiver and tingling
As well at that delicate, luscious ambrosial smell?
Yes they are, I can tell
Well, ladies and gentlemen
That aroma enriching the breeze
Is like nothing compared to its succulent source
As the gourmets among you will tell you, of course
Ladies and gentlemen
You can't imagine the rapture in store
Just inside of this door!

There you'll sample

Mrs. Lovett's meat pies
Savoury and sweet pies
As you'll see
You who eat pies
Mrs. Lovett's meat pies
Conjure up the treat pies
Used to be

[COMPANY]
Over here, boy, how about some ale?
Let me have another, laddie
Tell me, are they flavorsome?
Could we have some service over here, boy?
Could we have some service, waiter?
Could we have some service?

[MRS. LOVETT]
Toby!

[TOBY]
Coming!
'Scuse me
[MRS. LOVETT]
Ale, there!

[TOBY]
Right, Mum!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Quick now!

[COMPANY]
God, that's good!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Nice to see you, dearie
How have you been keeping
Cor, me bones is weary
Toby, one for the gentleman
Hear the birdies cheeping
Helps to keep it cheery
Toby, throw the old woman out!

[COMPANY]
God, that's good!

[MRS. LOVETT]
What's your pleasure, dearie?
No, we don't cut slices
Cor, me eyes is bleary!
Toby!
None for the gentleman!
I could up me prices
I'm a little leery
Business couldn't be better, though

[COMPANY]
God, that's good!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Knock on wood

[TODD]
Psst!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Excuse me

[TODD]
Psst!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Dear, see to the customers

[TODD]
Psst!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Yes, what, love?
Quick, though, the trade is brisk

[TODD]
But it's six o'clock!

[MRS. LOVETT]
So it's six o'clock

[TODD]
It was due to arrive
At a quarter to five
And it's six o'clock!
I've been waiting all day!
But it should have been here
By now![MRS. LOVETT]
And it's probably already
Down the block!
It'll be here, it'll be here!
Have a beaker of beer
And stop worrying, dear
Now, now

[COMPANY]
More hot pies!
[MRS. LOVETT]
God! Will you wait there
Coolly, cause my customers truly
Are getting unruly[TODD]
You'll come back
When it comes?

[MRS. LOVETT]
And what's your pleasure, dearie?
Oops! I beg your pardon!
Just me hands is smeary
Toby!
Run for the gentleman!
Don't you love a garden?
Always makes me teary
Must be one of them foreigners

[COMPANY]
God, that's good!
That is delicious!

[MRS. LOVETT]
What's my secret
Frankly, dear, forgive my candor
Family secret
All to do with herbs
Things like being careful with your coriander
That's what makes the gravy grander!

[COMPANY]
More hot pies!
More hot!
More pies!

[TODD]
Psst!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Excuse me

[TODD]
Psst!
[MRS. LOVETT]
Dear, see to the customers

[TODD]
Psst!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Yes, what, love?
Quick, though, the trade is brisk

[TODD]
But it's here!

[MRS. LOVETT]
It's where?

[TODD]
Coming up the stair!

[MRS. LOVETT]
I'll get rid of this lot
As they're still pretty hot
And then I'll be there!

[TODD]
It's about to be opened
Or don't you care?

[MRS. LOVETT]
No, I'll be there!
I will be there!
But they'll never be sold[TODD]
But we have to prepare!

If I let 'em get cold

Incidentally, dearie
You know Mrs. Mooney
Sales've been so dreary
Toby!
Poor thing is penniless
What about that loony?
Looking sort of beery
Oh well, got her comeuppance
And that'll be thruppence and

[COMPANY]
God, that's good
Have you just ever tasted smell such[MRS. LOVETT]
So she should

Oh my God what more that's pies good!

[TODD/MRS. LOVETT]
Ooh! Ooh!

[TODD]
Is that a chair fit for a king
A wondrous neat
And most particular chair?[MRS. LOVETT]
It's gorgeous!
It's gorgeous!

You tell me where

Is there a seat
Can half compare
With this particular thing!It's perfect!
It's gorgeous!

I have a few
Minor adjustments
To makeYou make your few
Minor adjustments

They'll take
A moment
I'll call youYou take your time
I'll go see to the customers

I have another friend

[TOBY]
Is that a pie fit for a king
A wondrous sweet
And most particular thing?[MRS. LOVETT]
It's gorgeous!
It's gorgeous!

You see, ma'am, why

There is no meat pie
Can compete
With this delectable pieIt's perfect!
It's gorgeous!

[TOBY/MRS. LOVETT]
The crust all velvety and wavy
That glaze, those crimps
And then, the thick, succulent gravy
One whiff, one glimpse
So rich, so tender
That you surrender[TODD]
Now to test
This best of barber chairs
It's time
It's time

[TODD]
Psst!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Excuse me

[TODD]
Psst!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Dear, see to the customers

[TODD]
Psst!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Yes, what, love?

[TODD]
Quick, now!
[MRS. LOVETT]
Me heart's aflutter!

[TODD]
When I pound the floor

[MRS. LOVETT]
When you pound the floor
[TODD]
It's a signal to show
That I'm ready to go
When I pound the floor!
I just want to be sure
When I'm certain that you're
In place[MRS. LOVETT]
Yes you told me I know
When you're ready to go
When you pound the floor
Won't you trust me, won't you trust me
I'll be waiting below
For the whistle to blow

I'll pound three times

Three times
And then you
Three times
If you
Exactly

[COMPANY]
More hot pies!

[MRS. LOVETT]
God!

[COMPANY]
More hot!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Right!

[COMPANY]
More pies!

[TODD]
Psst!

[COMPANY]
More!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Wait!

[COMPANY]
More hot pies!
More hot! More pies!
More! Hot! Pies!
[TOBY]
Eat them slow and feel the crust, how thin she rolled it[MRS. LOVETT]
Eat them slow and feel the crust, how thin I rolled it

[TOBY/MRS. LOVETT]
Eat them slow cause every one's a prize
Eat them slow cause that's the lot and now we've sold it
Come again tomorrow!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Hold it!

[COMPANY]
More hot pies!

[MRS. LOVETT]
Bless my eyes!

[TODD]
Right this way, sir

[MRS. LOVETT]
Fresh supplies!
How about it, dearie
Be here in a twinkling
Just confirms my theory
Toby, God watches over us
Didn't have an inkling
Positively eerie
Toby, throw the old woman out![TOBY]
Is that a pie
Fit for a king
A wondrous sweet
And most delectable thing
You see, Mum
Why, there is no meat pie

[COMPANY]
God, that's good!
That is de-, have you
-licious, ever tasted, smell such
Oh my God, what perfect, more, that's
Pies, such flavor
God, that's good!!!