If I Were a Richman (From "Fiddler on the Roof")

If I Were a Rich Man - Chicago Performers

Oh 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 daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum

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 dum

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 the 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 Pa pa gee Pa pa gaack

Pa pa gee Pa pa gaack

Would land like a trumpet on the ear

As if to say Here lives a wealthy man oy

If I were a rich man daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum

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 dum

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

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

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

That would be the sweetest thing of all oy

If I were a rich man daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum

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 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