Zacchaeus was a Greedy Little Man (Nobody liked Zacchaeus)

This is a children's hymn about Zacchaeus.   There are several variations on the verses.   References to it on the internet suggest that it was used in schools in the island of Ireland, and visitors to this website say it was included in a religious education programme used in the 1990s.

The author and composer are unknown.

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Lyrics

1. Zacchaeus was a greedy little man,
He cheated all the people in the land.
When the rent they couldn’t pay,
He would take their farms away
Or their furniture and ev’rything they had.
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a greedy little man.

2. One day he heard that Jesus was in town
A man who loved just ev’ryone around
So he climbed the highest tree,
For he found it hard to see
‘Mongst the people who were standing on the ground.
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a LONELY little man.

3. Then Jesus came along that very way,
And, full of love, the people heard him say,
To Zacchaeus in the tree,
‘Will you please come down to me,
For I’d love to share a meal with you today.’
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a PUZZLED little man.

4. But Zacchaeus was surprised at what he said
That one so great should want to share his bread
So he climbed down from the tree
Asking Jesus home for tea;
No more loneliness, but love and joy instead.
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, everyone liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a HUMBLE little man.

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• Hymns about Zacchaeus
• Children's hymns

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
1. Zacchaeus was a greedy little man,
He cheated all the people in the land.
When the rent they couldn’t pay,
He would take their farms away
Or their furniture and ev’rything they had.
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a greedy little man.

2. One day he heard that Jesus was in town
A man who loved just ev’ryone around
So he climbed the highest tree,
For he found it hard to see
‘Mongst the people who were standing on the ground.
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a LONELY little man.

3. Then Jesus came along that very way,
And, full of love, the people heard him say,
To Zacchaeus in the tree,
‘Will you please come down to me,
For I’d love to share a meal with you today.’
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a PUZZLED little man.

4. But Zacchaeus was surprised at what he said
That one so great should want to share his bread
So he climbed down from the tree
Asking Jesus home for tea;
No more loneliness, but love and joy instead.
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, everyone liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a HUMBLE little man.