If I Were a Rich Man

Dear God, you made many, many poor people

I realize, of course, it's no shame to be poor

But it's no great honor either

So, what would have been so terrible

If I'd had a small fortune?

If I were a rich man

Dada deeda deeda deedle dada deeda deeda dum

All day long I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a wealthy man, ha!

Wouldn't have to work hard

Dada deeda deeda deedle dada deeda deeda dum

If I were a biddy biddy rich

Deeda deeda deedle didle man

I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen

Right in the middle of the town

A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below

There would be one long staircase just going up

And one even longer coming down

And one more leading nowhere, just for show

I'd fill my yard with chicks

And turkeys and geese

And ducks for the town to see and hear

Squawking just as noisily as they can

And each loud quack and a buk-buk

And a wack-wack and a pak-pak

Will land like a trumpet on the ear

As if to say, "Here lives a wealthy man"

If I were a rich man

Dada deeda deeda deedle dada deeda deeda dum

All day long I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a wealthy man, ha!

Wouldn't have to work hard

Dada deeda deeda deedle dada deeda deeda dum

If I were a biddy biddy rich

Deeda deeda deedle didle man

I see my wife, my Golde

Looking like a rich man's wife

With a proper double chin

Supervising meals to her heart's delight, haha!

I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock

Ay, what a happy mood she's in

Screaming at the servants, day and night

The most important men in town

Will come to fawn on me

They will ask me to advise them

Like a Solomon the wise

"If you please, Reb Tevye"

"Pardon me, Reb Tevye"

Posing problems that would cross a rabbi's eyes