From the musical “Oliver”, 1959.
Words and music by Lionel Bart.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
Is it worth the waiting for?
If we live ’til eighty-four
All we ever get is gru…el!
Ev’ry day we say our prayer —
Will they change the bill of fare?
Still, we get the same old gruel!
There’s not a crust, not a crumb 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 imagine
Food, glorious food!
Hot sausage and mustard!
While we’re in the mood —
Cold jelly and custard!
Pease pudding and saveloy!
What 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?
Wat 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 —
The food,
Once again, food
Fabulous food,
Glorious food.
Food, glorious food!
Don’t care what it looks like —
Burned!
Underdone!
Crude!
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