Oliver! (song)
Encyclopedia
Oliver! is the title song from the 1960s original West End
and Broadway musical Oliver!
and the 1968 film of the same name
.
and that makes Mr. Bumble and the Widow Corney very angry at him and they think of ways to punish him for his ingratitude and ask who he is. The punishment that Oliver is to receive, as stated in the song is that he is to be sent down a stairway without a bannister and to be fed cockroaches served in a canister or they would push Oliver up a chimney full of soot. Even the Board of Governors is stunned by Oliver's ingratitude and join in the song (but only in the West End productions). The punishment that the Board of Governors suggest is that Oliver should be imprisoned and put up for sale for apprenticeship, though their lyrics are cut from the Broadway version.
Never before has a boy wanted more.
Oliver, Oliver
Won't ask for more when he knows what's in store.
There's a dark, thin winding stairway without any banister.
Which we'll throw him down
and feed him the cockroaches served in a canister.
Oliver, Oliver
What will he do when he's turned black and blue?
He will rue the day somebody named him Ol-i-ver
(BOTH) Oliver, Oliver
Never before has a boy wanted more.
Oliver, Oliver
Won't ask for more when he knows what's in store.
There's a long, thin winding stairway without any banister.
Which we'll throw him down
and feed him the cockroaches served in a canister
(MR. BUMBLE) Oliver, Oliver
What heavens pray will the governors say?
(WIDOW CORNEY) They will lay the blame on the one who named him...
(MR. BUMBLE) Ol-i-ver!
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
and Broadway musical Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
and the 1968 film of the same name
Oliver! (film)
Oliver! is a 1968 British musical film directed by Carol Reed. The film is based on the stage musical Oliver!, with book, music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart. The screenplay was written by Vernon Harris....
.
Background
The song begins with the workhouse boys and Mr. Bumble praying for the food they will receive and for a blessing of thankfulness. However, Oliver asks for more gruelGruel
Gruel is a food preparation consisting of some type of cereal—oat, wheat or rye flour, or rice—boiled in water or milk. It is a thinner version of porridge that may be more often drunk than eaten and need not even be cooked...
and that makes Mr. Bumble and the Widow Corney very angry at him and they think of ways to punish him for his ingratitude and ask who he is. The punishment that Oliver is to receive, as stated in the song is that he is to be sent down a stairway without a bannister and to be fed cockroaches served in a canister or they would push Oliver up a chimney full of soot. Even the Board of Governors is stunned by Oliver's ingratitude and join in the song (but only in the West End productions). The punishment that the Board of Governors suggest is that Oliver should be imprisoned and put up for sale for apprenticeship, though their lyrics are cut from the Broadway version.
Lyrics
(MR. BUMBLE) Oliver, Oliver.Never before has a boy wanted more.
Oliver, Oliver
Won't ask for more when he knows what's in store.
There's a dark, thin winding stairway without any banister.
Which we'll throw him down
and feed him the cockroaches served in a canister.
Oliver, Oliver
What will he do when he's turned black and blue?
He will rue the day somebody named him Ol-i-ver
(BOTH) Oliver, Oliver
Never before has a boy wanted more.
Oliver, Oliver
Won't ask for more when he knows what's in store.
There's a long, thin winding stairway without any banister.
Which we'll throw him down
and feed him the cockroaches served in a canister
(MR. BUMBLE) Oliver, Oliver
What heavens pray will the governors say?
(WIDOW CORNEY) They will lay the blame on the one who named him...
(MR. BUMBLE) Ol-i-ver!