Bock: If I Were A Rich Man (From "Fiddler on the Roof")

If I Were a Rich Man (From "Fiddler on the Roof") - Bryn Terfel/Czech Philharmonic/Paul Bateman

Lyrics by：Sheldon Harnick

Composed by：Jerry Bock<

Today I am a horse

Dear God

Did you have to make my poor old horse

Lose his shoe just before the Sabath

That wasn't very nice

It's enough you pick on me Tevye

Bless me with five daughters a life of poverty

But what have you got against my horse

Sometimes when it's quiet up there

I think you say to yourself

Let's see what kind of mischief can I play

On my friend Tevye

Dear God you made many many many rich people

Mm I realise of course

It's no shame to be poor

But it's no great honour either

So what would have been so terrible

If I had a small fortune

If I were a rich man

Daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb

All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum

If I were a wealthy man

Wouldn't have to work hard

Daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb

If I were a biddy-biddy rich

Daidle deedle daidle daidle 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

Will land like a trumpet on the ear

As if to say here lives a wealthy man

Ugh

If I were a rich man

Daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb

All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum

If I were a wealthy man

Wouldn't have to work hard

Daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb

If I were a biddy-biddy rich

Daidle deedle daidle daidle 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

Though has to far most a

Kind yeah

The most important men in town will come to fawn on me

They will 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

Ya va voy ya va voy voy vum

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

Ugh

If I were a rich man

Daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb

All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum

If I were a wealthy man

I wouldn't have to work hard

Daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb

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