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Simple Joys Lyrics by Ben Vereen

Pippin (1972 Original Broadway Cast Recording)

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[LEADING PLAYER]
Well I'll sing you the story of a sorrowful lad
Had everything he wanted, didn't want what he had
He had wealth and pelf and fame and name and all of
That noise
But he didn't have none of those simple joys
His life seemed purposeless and flat
Aren't you glad you don't feel like that?
So he ran from all the deeds he'd done, he ran
Things he'd just begun
He ran from himself, now that's mighty far to run
Out into the country where he played as a boy
He knew he had to find him some simple joys
He wanted someplace warm and green
We all could use a change of scene
Sweet summer evenings, hot wine and bread
Sharing your supper, sharing your bed
Simple joys have a simple voice:
It says why not go ahead?
Wouldn't you rather be a left-handed flea
A crab on a slab at the bottom of the sea
Than a man who never learns how to be free
Not 'til he's underground
Sweet summer evenings, sapphire skies
Feasting her belly
Feasting her eyes
Simple joys have a simple voice:
It says time's a living prize
And wouldn't you
Rather be a left-handed flea
A crab on a slab at the bottom of the sea
A newt on the root of a banyan tree
Or a fig on a twig in Galilee
Than a man who never learns how to be free
Not till the day
Not till the day
Not till the day
Not till the day he dies!
Credits

About “Simple Joys” by Ben Vereen

Read the complete lyrics to "Simple Joys" by Ben Vereen from the album "Pippin (1972 Original Broadway Cast Recording)". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Broadway, Musicals, Pop.

"Simple Joys" is performed by Ben Vereen. from the album "Pippin (1972 Original Broadway Cast Recording)" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Simple Joys", explore more songs by Ben Vereen using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Simple Joys" is credited to Ben Vereen. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Simple Joys" appears on "Pippin (1972 Original Broadway Cast Recording)".

Visit the Ben Vereen artist page at /artist/ben-vereen for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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