" Not While I'm Around " is a song from the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It is a duet performed by Tobias Ragg and Mrs. Lovett. The song first appeared on Broadway in 1979. A movie version of the story from 2007 includes Edward Sanders as Tobias and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett. In the 2023 revival of the musical, Gaten Matarazzo and Annaleigh Ashford sing the song. Josh Groban, who played the barber in the 2023 production, also released his own version of the song.

Synopsis

Mrs. Lovett owns a pie shop called Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pie Emporium. She has taken in young Tobias Ragg, a homeless boy, to be her helper. When Mrs. Lovett asks Tobias to run and get a piece of toffee, she accidentally takes out a coin purse she stole from Tobias' former master, Adolfo Pirelli, who was killed by Sweeney Todd. Tobias becomes suspicious of Todd and expresses a wish to protect Mrs. Lovett, whom he now considers a mother figure. Mrs. Lovett tells him not to be afraid.

Critical reception

Scott Foundas of Variety described the song as "tender and haunting," pointing out that street child Tobias "becomes, for a moment, her temporary son." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, reviewing the 2007 film, wrote that Helena Bonham Carter "makes people feel chills in 'Not While I'm Around,' a song about love and loyalty she sings to her young apprentice, Toby, just before she plans his death." The scoresheet website JW Pepper stated, "This unforgettable ballad from Sweeney Todd will create a tender moment in your concert." The New York Times, writing about a regional stage production, noted, "The contrast of rich, emotional songs and dangerous situations occurs with 'Pretty Women,' sung by Sweeney and Judge Turpin, and 'Not While I’m Around,' sung to protect Mrs. Lovett by her young helper, Tobias Ragg."

Covers

Barbra Streisand recorded a version of the song for her album The Broadway Album in 1985. The very first line of the song was briefly mentioned in the 1995 The Nanny episode from season 2 titled "The Will." In this episode, Fran Fine (played by Fran Drescher) mistakenly believes her boss, Maxwell Sheffield (played by Charles Shaughnessy), could have a serious health problem if he does not follow a strict diet prescribed by a cardiologist, which is actually meant for one of Sheffield's clients. Maggie Sheffield (played by Nicholle Tom) tells Fran that she is feeling upset because of acne on her face and asks Fran to cover it with makeup. In a moment of nervousness, Fran hugs Maggie and sings the line "Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around!" to comfort her, thinking Maggie is upset about losing her father.