Representations in popular culture

The Modern Sweeny Todd.[1]

Baron’s corruption of the traditional barber shop was a cause of much popular resentment. The veteran music hall singer Herbert Campbell likened his activities to the ‘Demon Barber of Fleet Street.’

In the Modern Sweeny Todd, Campbell sang:

When a foreigner comes you can bet ten quid,

He’ll pinch your trade like this one did

In the Strand. In the Strand. In the Strand. In the Strand.

Then after a while the Joker begins

To scrape our ‘Oof’ and scrape our chins

In the Strand. In the Strand. In the Strand. In the Strand.

This Foreign Todd the Barber – has shown – you’ll own

That when a Briton wants a crop,

He ought to go to a British shop.

In the Strand. In the Strand. In the Strand. In the Strand,

And not to a Foreign Barber.[2]

Written by Sandip Kana 

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