Oliver (Reprise) Lyrics
Oliver (Reprise)
WIDOW CORNEY(spoken) We must retireve that boy, Mr. Bumble.
MR. BUMBLE
(spoken) We must indeed ma'am. We must indeed.
BOTH
(sung) Oliver! Oliver!
WIDOW CORNEY
That was the mite
With the large appetite
BOTH
(sung) Oliver! Oliver!
MR. BUMBLE
Apparently he's from a rich family!
WIDOW CORNEY
And to think we
Nearly
Stupidly went and lost track of him...
MR. BUMBLE
If the truth were
Know we
Both were delighted at seeing the back of him.
BOTH
(sung) Oliver! Oliver!
MR. BUMBLE
What'll we do...?
WIDOW CORNEY
We must give him his due...
BOTH
...And we'll praise the day
Somebody gave us
MR. BUMBLE
Raise the flags
WIDOW CORNEY
Coming to save us
BOTH
Cash rewards
MR. BUMBLE
Plus a promotion
WIDOW CORNEY
Who'd have thought?
MR. BUMBLE
Hadn't a notion
BOTH
Praise the lord, somebody brought us O-li-ver!
Song Overview
Review and Highlights
The reprise zips by - a minute of opportunism dressed as respectability. Mr Bumble and Widow Corney clock that the boy they dismissed might be their ticket to status, and the music obliges with a chipper two-step that makes scheming sound like civic duty. It’s classic Lionel Bart: music-hall bounce, patter lyrics, and a hook you can hum before the punchline lands.
Highlights
- Character snap: In 60 seconds, the pair flips from disdain to calculation - and sings it sweetly.
- Music-hall frame: Bright inner-voice harmonies and a tidy turnaround keep the patter crisp.
- Cast chemistry: Bumble’s bluster dovetails with Corney’s glee; the chorus seals the grin.
- Key takeaway: Comedy does the revealing - greed sounds charming until you listen twice.
Creation History
First written for the 1960 stage musical, the “Oliver” material appears in multiple recordings - from the original London cast to the 1994 London Palladium set - and returns here with the 2024 company. The new live album arrived with Cameron Mackintosh’s reimagined production that travelled from Chichester to the West End, recorded in front of audiences and mixed for modern ears.
Song Meaning
Plot
News breaks: Oliver might be connected to money through his late mother. Bumble and Corney, now a matched pair in ambition, vow to retrieve him. Their duet - half hymn, half sales pitch - wraps self-interest in piety and promises of order.
Meaning, mood, context
The song is a sly moral test. The mood stays jaunty, but the message is blunt: systems built for care can be gamed by those in charge. In the larger arc, this reprise resets the stakes and nudges us toward the chase that follows. Stylistically it rides a perky two-step with patter lines and quick echoing refrains - the music-hall toolkit that keeps Dickensian grit feeling light underfoot.
Language and little theatrical tricks
- Sanctimony as rhyme: “praise the lord” collides with “cash rewards” - a joke and a jab.
- Call-and-response: Duo lines fold into company echoes, turning private scheming public.
- Meter that hustles: Patter keeps the breath short, matching the characters’ impatience.
Key Facts
- Artist: Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Katy Secombe, Oliver! 2024 Company
- Featured: Company ensemble under Graham Hurman
- Composer/Lyricist: Lionel Bart
- Producer: Cameron Mackintosh
- Album: Oliver! (2024 London Cast) [Live]
- Release Date: January 10, 2025 - album digital/CD
- Genre: Musical theatre, music hall
- Instruments: Pit orchestra - strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano
- Label: Warner Classics (in partnership with First Night Records)
- Mood: jaunty, satirical, brisk
- Length: ~1:00
- Track #: 20
- Language: English
- Music style: patter duet over two-step bounce with ensemble refrain
Questions and Answers
- Where does this reprise sit in the story?
- After Oliver’s potential family connection surfaces, Bumble and Corney launch a gleeful plan to reclaim him.
- Who sings it on the 2024 London cast recording?
- Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Mr Bumble) and Katy Secombe (Widow Corney), with the company joining.
- Is this a standalone single?
- No - it’s part of the complete live cast album, recorded in performance and released digitally and on CD.
- What earlier recordings include this material?
- The 1960 original London cast and the 1994 London Palladium cast both contain versions of the “Oliver” number and its reprise.
- Does the new album carry any notable milestone?
- Yes. It’s presented in Dolby Atmos and has logged action on the UK Official Classical Compilation Albums Chart.
Awards and Chart Positions
| Item | Region | Chart/Metric | Peak / Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver! (2024 London Cast) [Live] - album | UK | Official Classical Compilation Albums | #2 peak | Listed as “Oliver - Re-imagined With a Twist - 2024 London Cast” across multiple weeks in early 2025. |
How to Sing Oliver (Reprise)
Vocal shape: Treat it as a patter duet for character baritone and mezzo - quick diction, clean cutoffs, bright head-voice ping for the punchlines.
Tempo and feel: Keep a buoyant two-step. It should bounce, not rush. Let the ensemble echo feel like a public chorus.
Acting notes: Play sanctimony with a smile. The comedy comes from sincerity - they really believe a reward is divine providence.
Breath/diction: Forward consonants on “praise the” and “cash rewards.” Short, frequent breaths between internal rhymes.
Additional Info
Lineage matters. Earlier recordings feature Paul Whitsun-Jones and Hope Jackman on the 1960 OLCR, and James Saxon with Jenny Galloway on the 1994 Palladium set. The 2024 album captures Oscar Conlon-Morrey and Katy Secombe in full tilt, with the West End company sealing the refrain. The new production’s transfer from Chichester to the Gielgud reframed Oliver! for a new crowd, and the live record leans into that energy. According to Playbill, the release partnered First Night Records with Warner Classics; as reported by BroadwayWorld, the album arrived in Dolby Atmos.