Villain Song Wiki
Register
Advertisement

"Boy for Sale" is a song from the stage musical Oliver! and its 1968 film adaptation of the same name. It features Mr. Bumble attempting to sell Oliver Twist to the highest bidder for slave labor. After failing to sell Oliver off to a blacksmith and later a chef, Mr. Bumble eventually sells him to Mr. Sowerberry, an undertaker.

Performers[]

Character Original London Original Broadway 1968 Film 1983 London Revival 1994 London Revival 2009 London Revival
Mr. Bumble Paul Whitsun-Jones
Rob Inglis
Alan Crofoot Harry Secombe Peter Bayliss James Saxon Julius D'Silva

Lyrics[]

One boy,
Boy for sale.
He's going cheap.
Only seven guineas.
That -- or thereabouts.

Small boy...
Rather pale...
From lack of sleep.
Feed him gruel dinners.
Stop him getting stout.

If I should say he wasn't very greedy...
I could not, I'd be telling you a tale.

One boy,
Boy for sale.
Come take a peep.
Have you ever seen as nice
A boy
For sale?

One boy,
Boy for sale.
He's going cheap.
(How much then?)
Only seven guineas.
(How much?!)
That -- or thereabouts.

Fine boy,
Boy for sale.
He's yours to keep
For one thousand pennies
You can work it out
That's four pounds, three and four, slightly under four guineas,
Knocked down from seven guineas.

(Three pounds, ten shillings)
Three pounds, what sir?
Certainly not sir

Any advance on three pounds ten then
Going
Going
Gone

I could not say
He isn't very greedy
I dare not
I'd be telling you a tale

One boy,
Boy for sale.
Come take a peep.
Have you ever seen as nice
A boy
For sale?

Other Appearances[]

  • The song appeared on the following albums:
    • Oliver!
    • Oliver! (Original Cast Recording)
    • Oliver! (The Original Cast Recording) [Remastered]
    • Oliver! - 1994 London Palladium Cast Recording
    • Oliver (Original Soundtrack)
    • Oliver (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
    • Oliver the Musical
    • Greatest Musicals Double Feature: Oliver and My Fair Lady
    • Lionel Bart's Oliver

Gallery[]

Images[]

Stage[]

1968 Film[]

Videos[]


           Oliver!Navbox Songs

Oliver, OliverI Shall ScreamBoy for SaleThat's Your FuneralYou've Got to Pick a Pocket or TwoBe Back SoonI'd Do AnythingMy Name!It's a Fine Life (Reprise)Reviewing the SituationOliver! (Reprise)Reviewing the Situation (Reprise)

Advertisement