Food, Glorious Food

1960 song with lyrics by Lionel Bart

"Food, Glorious Food", written by Lionel Bart, is the opening song from the 1960s West End and Broadway musical (and 1968 film) Oliver!.

Musical theme

The song is sung from the point of view of the children of a workhouse for orphans where they are forced to work to “earn their keep”, and deprived of proper nutrition while the administrators feast on delicacies. The children arrive for breakfast while fantasizing about delicious food such as sausage and mustard, and sweets including jelly and custard. When the workhouse boys arrive at the front of the serving line they receive only tasteless gruel from the staff. The song is intended as a metaphor for keeping hope alive, despite being mistreated.[1]

In popular culture

In the animated film Ice Age: The Meltdown, a flock of vultures dance while singing a version of the song.[2] A parody of the song named "Gruesome ol' Gruel" appears in the 2nd season of the 2020 reboot of Animaniacs.

References

  1. ^ "FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD". Psydro. 5 July 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "Western Animation / Ice Age: The Meltdown". TV Tropes. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  • v
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Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist
Characters
  • Oliver Twist
  • Bill Sikes
  • Fagin
  • Mr Brownlow
  • Nancy
  • Rose Maylie
  • Monks
  • The Artful Dodger
  • Charley Bates
  • Mr Sowerberry
  • Mr. Bumble
Film adaptations
  • Oliver Twist (1909)
  • Oliver Twist (1912)
  • Oliver Twist (1912)
  • Oliver Twist (1916)
  • Oliver Twist (1919)
  • Oliver Twist (1922)
  • Oliver Twist (1933)
  • Oliver Twist (1948)
  • Oliver! (1968)
  • Oliver Twist (1974)
  • Las Aventuras de Oliver Twist (1987)
  • Oliver Twist (2005)
Film retellings
TV adaptations
  • Oliver Twist (1962 TV serial)
  • Oliver Twist (1982 American-British TV film)
  • Oliver Twist (1982 Australian TV film)
  • Oliver Twist (1985 TV serial)
  • Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist (1996 TV series)
  • Oliver Twist (1997 TV film)
  • Oliver Twist (1999 TV series)
  • Oliver Twist (2007 TV series)
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