Dear God, you made many many poor people
I realize of course that it's no shame to be poor
But it's no great honor either
So what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?
If I were a rich man ya da de ha de ha de ha de da de da de da dum
All day long
I'd biddy biddy bum if I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard ya pa de ha de ha de ha de da de da de da dum
If I were a very very rich yedle-deddle dedle dedle 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 could 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
"swaqwk swaqwk swaqwk swaqwk"
Would land like a trumpet on the ears as if to say
"here lives a wealthy man"
Ha if I were a rich man
Ya da de ha de ha boo boo boo da de da de da dum
All day long
I'd biddy biddy bum if I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard ya da de ha de ha de ha de da de da de da dum
If I were a very very rich yedle-deddle dedle dedle 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
I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock
Oh what a happy mood she's in
Screaming at the servants day and night
The most important men in town will come to fall on me
They would ask me to advise them
Like Solomon the Wise
If you please, Reb Tevye
Pardon me, Reb Tevye
Posing problems that would cross a rabbi's eyes la-dee-la-re-la-ra
And it won't make one bit of difference if I answer right or wrong
When you're rich they think you really know
If I were rich I'd have the time that I lack to sit in the synagogue and pray
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall
And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men seven hours every day
That would be the sweetest thing of all ooh oh
If I were a rich man ya da de ha de ha de ha de da de da de da dum
All day long
I'd biddy biddy bum if I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard ya da de ha de ha de ha de da de da de da bum
Lord who made the lion and the lamb
You decreed
I should be what I am
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if I were a wealthy man?
4:57
In the same key as the original: D♭, C♯m, E, F♯m
Play online
