"To Be or Not to Be" (also known as "The Hitler Rap") is a song recorded by Mel Brooks in 1983 for Island Records. The song appeared on the soundtrack album for the movie of the same name. It was derived from the burlesque show within the film but did not appear within it. It also echoes Brooks's 1967 film The Producers, with the lines "Don't be stupid, be a smarty. Come and join the Nazi Party," taken from the song "Springtime for Hitler".

In the accompanying music video, Brooks is dressed like Adolf Hitler and raps about the key events in Hitler's life in Nazi Germany. The ending makes reference to Hitler's alleged escape to Argentina near the end of World War II.

To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)

The song managed to chart high in Australia and the United Kingdom, peaking at number three in the former country and number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number one in Norway and number two in Sweden.

To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)

Track listing

12" single

"To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap) (Part 1)" – 7:43

"To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap) (Part 2)" (Instrumental Mix) – 7:51

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

Songs written for films

1983 singles

Satirical songs

Comedy songs

Black comedy music

Novelty songs

Songs about Adolf Hitler

Songs about World War II

Works by Mel Brooks

Song recordings produced by Pete Wingfield

1983 songs

Island Records singles

Number-one singles in Norway

To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)