When The Idle Poor Become The Idle Rich
Read When The Idle Poor Become The Idle Rich lyrics by Fred Astaire on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
When The Idle Poor Become The Idle Rich
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
Finian:
When the idle poor
Become the idle rich
You'll never know
Just who is who
Or who is which.
Won't it be rich
When everyone's poor relative,
Becomes a "rockefellertive",
And palms no longer itch
What a switch!
Female ensemble:
When we all have ermine
And plastic teeth
How would we do determine
Who's who underneath?
Finian:
And when all your neighbors
Are upper class
- You won't know your 'jones'
From your 'as...tors'.
Let's toast the day
The day we drink that drinkie up
But with a little pinkie up.
The day on which
The idle poor
Become the idle rich
Sharon:
When a rich man doesn't want to work
He's a bon vivant.
Yes, he's a bon vivant.
But when a poor man doesn't want to work,
He's a loafer, he's a lounger
He's a lazy good for nothing
Finian:
He's a jerk!
Finian:
When a rich man loses on a horse
Isn't he the sport!
Oh, isn't he the sport!
When a poor man loses on a horse
He's a gambler, he's a spender
He's a low life, he's a reason for divorce!
When a rich man chases after dames
He's a man about town,
Oh yes a man about town.
But when a poor man chases after dames
He's a bounder, he's a rounder
He's a rotter, and a lot of dirty names!
When the idle poor
Become the idle rich
You'll never know
Just who is who
Or who is which.
No one will see
The irish or slav in you
'Cause when you're on park avenue
Cornelius and mike
Look alike
When poor tweedle dum
Is rich tweedle dee
This discrimination will no longer be.
When we're in the dough
And off of the nut
You won't know your banker.
From your but...ler.
Let's make the switch.
With just a few annuities
We'll hide those incongruities
In clothes from abercrombie fitch
Company
When the idle poor
Become the idle rich
When the idle poor
Become the idle rich
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "When The Idle Poor Become The Idle Rich"?
Fred Astaire performs "When The Idle Poor Become The Idle Rich", and this lyric page sits inside the Fred Astaire catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "When The Idle Poor Become The Idle Rich"?
Yes. The related section below points to Easter Parade and Puttin´on The Ritz with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Fred Astaire?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Fred Astaire's lyric pages.
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
What people are saying
No listener comments on When The Idle Poor Become The Idle Rich yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.