Theatre
By Numbers
Oliver! By Numbers: Every song in the stage musical
Here’s your breakdown of every song on the Oliver! soundtrack
Sixty-five years since it first premiered in London, the soundtrack of Oliver! the musical still feels impressively modern. Catchy, clever and occasionally gutting – see ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ for proof of that last one – these songs have wormed their way into the great British songbook. Even if you’ve never seen Oliver!, we’re sure you’ll recognise strains of ‘Food, Glorious Food’ and ‘Consider Yourself’. If not, consider this your chance to learn.
Whether you’re preparing to see the show for the first time or just looking for a refresh on one of British musical theatre’s most beloved collection of songs, we’ve got you covered. Here’s your breakdown of every song in Oliver! the musical.
‘Food, Glorious Food’
The workhouse boys open the show with their wistful ode to a proper dinner. As they file into the dining hall, however, they’re met with bowls of gruel once again. Half-starved, they lose themselves in dreams of better fare.
Key lyric: “Food, glorious food/What wouldn’t we give for/That extra bit more/That’s all that we live for”
‘Oliver!’
Gathering the courage to ask for a bit more food, Oliver is met with anger from Mr Bumble and Widow Corney, the heartless caretakers of the workhouse. They label him greedy and threaten him with injury. The workhouse boys look on in interest.
Key lyric: “Oliver, Oliver, never before has a boy wanted more”
‘Boy For Sale’
Mr Bumble decides to remove Oliver from the workhouse and proposes to sell him – although he doesn’t advertise him as much of a prize. Oliver is sold as an apprentice to an undertaker, Mr Sowerberry.
Key lyric: “One boy/Boy for sale/He’s going cheap”
‘That’s Your Funeral’
Mr Sowerberry and his wife decide that Oliver is a ‘born undertaker’s mute’, with a face solemn enough to make him a perfect participant in funeral processions. They taunt Oliver and Mr Bumble about their respective over and under-eating. Mr Bower is unimpressed by the couple and rushes to complete the deal and leave.
Key lyric: “We will not reduce our prices/Keep your vices usual/That’s your funeral”
‘Where Is Love?’
Sent to sleep in the basement of Mr Sowerberry’s establishment, amongst the coffins, Oliver muses on the elusive concept of love, and wonders if it will ever find him.
Key lyric: “Must I travel far and wide/’Til I am beside the someone who/I can mean something to?”
‘I Shall Scream’
Left alone with Widow Corney, Mr Bumble makes advances towards her. She pretends to be disgusted, but she continues to encourage him all the same.
On the 2024 London cast recording, the number ends with a brief piece of dialogue between Oliver and the Artful Dodger as they meet on the streets of London for the first time.
Key lyric: “At the thought of what you’re thinking/I shall scream!”
‘Consider Yourself’
After running away from the Sowerberrys, Oliver finds new lodgings with the Artful Dodger and the rest of Fagin’s gang. Dodger professes to take to Oliver immediately and offers him warm friendship for the first time in Oliver’s life. He’s introduced to Charley, Dandy and the other urchins, without understanding that they are a gang of pickpockets.
Key lyric: “We’ve taken to you so strong/It’s clear we’re going to get along”
‘Consider Yourself (Reprise)’
In this brief reprise, Oliver officially meets Fagin, the criminal fence at the helm of this gang of pickpockets.
Key lyric: “Consider yourself one of us”
‘You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two’
With Oliver still under the impression that Fagin’s gang make a living by making handkerchiefs, Fagin corrects him, and Oliver begins to be instructed in the art of pickpocketing. He references his associate Bill Sikes, who graduated from picking pockets to higher leagues of criminality, and instructs Oliver to target London’s wealthier class.
Key lyric: “Why should we all break our backs/Better pick a pocket or two”
‘Sikes & Nancy’
We’re introduced to the terrifying Bill Sikes, who runs this part of London. His girlfriend, Nancy, lets the audience know that Sikes has a tendency towards violent jealousy.
Key lyric: “Fit for doing of a murder/If you just so much as heard a bloke even whisper my name”
‘It’s A Fine Life’
Nancy arrives at Fagin’s den for a drink with her friend Bet and greets the boys. The two sing about how they like living on the dangerous side of life, even though the upper classes may sneer at them.
Key lyric: “If you don’t mind taking, as it turns out/It’s a fine life”
‘I’d Do Anything’
Flustered, Oliver bows to Nancy and Bet, which leads to some teasing. Nancy and Dodger demonstrate how the upper classes behave around each other and coach Oliver in their idea of fine manners. The song eventually becomes a vow of loyalty from the boys to Fagin.
Key lyric: “I’d do anything for you, dear, anything/For you mean everything to me”
‘Be Back Soon’
After Nancy and Bet leave, Oliver is sent out on his first pickpocketing job with Dodger and Charley. They have a cheery send-off from Fagin – but all is about to go wrong, when Dodger and Charley run off and leave Oliver to be arrested for the crime.
Key lyric: “And you should be clever thieves/Whip it quick and be back soon”
‘Oom-Pah-Pah’
Act Two opens with Nancy singing a drinking song in the local pub. Loved by her community, she gets them all singing along with her.
Key lyric: “There’s a little ditty/They’re singing in the city/Especially when they’ve been on the gin or the beer”
‘My Name’
Bill Sikes arrives and disperses the crowd. He brags about the fear he inspires in everyone around him and the violence he’s unafraid to dole out.
Key lyric: “It’s much blacker than they smear it/Nobody mentions my name”
‘As Long As He Needs Me’
After learning that Oliver has been taken in by the Brownlow family, Fagin fears he will tell what he knows to the authorities, and the gang resolves to abduct him. Nancy is conflicted, caring as she does for Oliver, but is forced to obey by the abusive Bill. She sings about how she’ll stand by Bill no matter what, believing that he does love her, despite everything.
Key lyric: “If you are lonely, then you will know/When someone needs you, you love them so”
‘Who Will Buy?’
In the Brownlow’s home in Bloomsbury, Oliver wakes up as the street sellers are beginning to set up shop and advertise their wares outside the window. Finally safe and happy, Oliver wishes he was able to purchase the morning and preserve it forever.
Key lyric: “Who will buy this wonderful feeling?/I’m so high I swear I could fly”
‘Reviewing The Situation’
With Oliver back in Fagin’s clutches and a dangerous situation with Sikes narrowly avoided, Fagin assesses his position in life and wonders if he might want to try a path other than criminality. Once he’s examined all his options, however, he decides he’s probably better off staying as he is.
Key lyric: “I’m reviewing the situation/I’m a badd’un, and a badd’un I shall stay!”
‘Oliver! (Reprise)’
After uncovering a connection between Oliver and a possible rich relative, Mr Brownlow and Widow Corney resolve to get the boy back and see if they can make any money off him.
Key lyric: “Apparently he’s from a rich family/And to think we nearly stupidly went and lost track of him!”
‘As Long As He Needs Me (Reprise)’
Behind Bill’s back, Nancy plots to return Oliver to the Brownlows, but decides that she won’t betray Bill or any of his associates in the process.
Key lyric: “I won’t betray your trust/Though people say I must”
‘Reviewing The Situation (Reprise)’
With Nancy having given her life to return Oliver to the Brownlows – who turn out to be his relatives – Fagin asses his life once again and decides its officially time to straighten things out.
Key lyric: “I’ll turn a leaf over/And who can tell what I may find?”
‘Finale’
The show ends with a reprise of ‘Consider Yourself’ by the entire company.
Key lyric: “Consider yourself one of us!”
Oliver! is now booking at the Gielgud Theatre until 4 October – find tickets here
