Oliver!
Music: Lionel Bart
Lyrics: Lionel Bart
Book: Lionel Bart
Premiere: Thursday, June 30, 1960

BOYS 

Is it worth the waiting for? 
If we live 'til eighty four 
All we ever get is [bad word] ..el! 
Ev'ry day we say our prayer -- 
Will they change the bill of fare? 
Still we get the same old [bad word] ..el! 
There is not a cust, not a [bad word] can we find, 
Can we beg, can we borrow, or cadge, 
But there's nothing to stop us from getting a thrill 
When we all close our eyes and imag...ine 

Food, glorious food! 
Hot sausage and mustard! 
While we're in the mood -- 
Cold jelly and custard! 
Pease pudding and saveloys! 
"What's next?" is the question. 
Rich gentlemen have it, boys -- 
In-di-gestion! 

Food, glorious food! 
We're anxious to try it. 
Three banquets a day -- 
Our favourite diet! 

Just picture a great big steak -- 
Fried, roasted or stewed. 
Oh, food, 
Wonderful food, 
Marvellous food, 
Glorious food. 

Food, glorious food! 
What is there more handsome? 
Gulped, swallowed or chewed -- 
Still worth a kin's ransom. 
What is it we dream about? 
What brings on a sigh? 
Piled peaches and cream , about 
Six feet high! 

Food, glorious food! 
Eat right through the menu. 
Just loosen your belt 
Two inches and then you 
Work up a new appetite. 
In this interlude -- 
Then food, 
Once again, food 
Fabulous food, 
Glorious food. 

Food, glorious food! 
Don't care what it looks like -- 
Burned! 
Underdone!  [bad word]  
Don't care what the cook's like. 
Just thinking of growing fat -- 
Our senses go reeling 
One moment of knowing that 
Full-up feeling! 

Food, glorious food! 
What wouldn't we give for 
That extra bit more -- 
That's all that we live for 
Why should we be fated to 
Do nothing but brood 
On food, 
Magical food, 
Wonderful food, 
Marvellous food, 
Fabulous food, 

OLIVER 

Beautiful food, 

BOYS 

Glorious food.