Oliver! (song)

Oliver! is the title song from the 1960s original West End and Broadway musical Oliver! and the 1968 film of the same name.

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 gruel 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!