If I Were a Rich Man (from "Fiddler On the Roof")

Ha ha ha ha ha

If I were a rich man

Deedle daidle deedle digger digger deedle daidle dum

All day long I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a wealthy man

Wouldn't have to work hard

Deedle daidle deedle digger digger deedle daidle dum

If I were a biddy biddy rich

Deedle daidle digger digger 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 going 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 "kaaak, keek, kaak, keek"

Would land like a trumpet on the ear

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

If I were a rich man

Deedle daidle deedle digger digger deedle daidle dum

All day long I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a wealthy man

I wouldn't have to work hard

Deedle daidle deedle digger digger deedle daidle dum

If I were a biddy biddy rich

Deedle daidle digger digger 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

Oy, 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 questions that would cross a rabbi's eyes

"May I buy a ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-babya?"

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

This would be the sweetest thing of all

If I were a rich man

Deedle daidle deedle digger digger deedle daidle dum

All day long I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a wealthy man

I wouldn't have to work hard

Deedle daidle deedle digger digger deedle daidle dum

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?