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The pizzicato underneath the line "You can even eat the dishes" creates a sense of stealth here, as if they're going to try to change gear without really letting you know. But the element of surprise is spoiled by that tuba (or whatever it is) faffing about for a bar too many, before the appropriately saccharine strings sweep you up into the new key, by which time it doesn't seem so bad – more euthanasia than murder.

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The original 1971 version from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was sung by Aubrey Woods, who played Bill, the candy store owner. Apparently Anthony Newley thought the performance was so bad that he offered to play the part himself, though this offer was clearly not taken up.

Careful surfers may note that Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse also had a hand in a much worse gear change, in the form of the Bond theme "Licence To Kill" – though to be fair, they're only credited with its lyrics.