[NARRATOR, spoken]
We start our play in tragic times
In Florence, where we hear the chimes
Of doom-filled bells, a fearful day
The famous man who's due to pay
Is Benvenuto Cellini, one
Who laughs and loves and lives for fun
He'll hang for fighting Maffio
Or will he? Well, let's start our show

[HANGMAN]
When the bell of doom is clanging
For the man awaiting hanging
Let's face the fact with no misgiving:
One man's death is another man's living!

[GALLOWS BUILDERS]
One man's death is another man's living
Under the gallows tree
With union pay
We sing all day
The whilе our hammers bang
If the world doesn't likе it
The world can go hang
Under the gallows tree!
Oh, riddle dee diddle dee dee!
Oh, under the gallows tree!
[HANGMAN]
There are those who have me baffled
They refuse to choose the scaffold
To die in bed than hang they'd ruther
Six of one, half a dozen of t'other

[GALLOWS BUILDERS]
One man's death is another man's living
Under the gallows tree
We earn our fee
Philosophically
The while our hammers bang
If the world doesn't like it
The world can go hang
Under the gallows tree!
Oh, riddle dee diddle dee dee!
Oh, under the gallows tree!

[TARTMAN]
Sweets and tarts!
Get your sweets and tarts!
Fill your stomachs
And warm the cockles of your hearts!
Sweets and tarts!

[SOUVENIR MAN, spoken]
Hey tartman! What's the idea?
There's nobody here yet!
[TARTMAN, spoken]
I was just warming up. 

[SOUVENIR MAN, spoken]
By Saint Veronica! Not a bad notion!
(sung)
Souvenirs! Hurry, hurry, hurry, get your souvenirs!
Souvenirs of the hanging of Cellini—
The greatest hanging of the season
Get your likeness of Benvenuto Cellini—
The occasion isn't complete without one!
Souvenirs! Hurry, hurry, hurry, get your souvenirs!

[MAFFIO]
How goes it, hangman?

[HANGMAN, spoken]
Almost ready, sir. Soon he'll bother you no more. 

[MAFFIO, spoken]
Are you sure this noose'll hold?

[HANGMAN, spoken]
I've never had a rope break on me yet, sir. 

[MAFFIO, spoken]
I want no slip-ups
(sung)
It was only by a stroke of Providence
That I survived his murderous attack
And now I want to see him dangling there
And I won't feel safe on this earth until I do
[HANGMAN, spoken]
It's a great day for me too, sir. 
(sung)
The most famous neck in Florence
(spoken)
But 'tis pity that with that neck passes a great talent. 

[MAFFIO, spoken]
Bah!
(sung)
Of sympathy I haven't any!
He's tried to kill one man too many!

[TARTMAN, SOUVENIR MAN]
Sweets and tarts! Souvenirs!
Get your sweets and tarts! Hurry, hurry, hurry
Fill your stomachs Get your souvenirs!
And warm the cockles of your hearts Souvenirs of the hanging of Cellini
Sweets and tarts! Souvenirs!
Sweets and tarts! Souvenirs!
Sweets and tarts!

[HANGMAN, spoken]
What a day!

[ENSEMBLE, spoken variously]
What a turnout!
What a turnout!
What a hanging!
What a hanging!
What a city!
What a city!
What a city!

(sung)
With nothing but pity
The folk we dismiss
Who live in a city
That's other than this