If I were a rich man, Daidle deedle 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 deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich, Deedle daidle deedle daidle man
I’d build a big tall house, With rooms by the dozen, Right in the middle
of 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 quack and cluck
And gobble and honk, Will land like a trumpet on the ear
As if to say here lives a wealthy man
If I were a rich man, Daidle deedle 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 deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich, Deedle daidle deedle 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
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 hour every day, That could be the sweetest thing of all
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, The rabbi’s eyes
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 a rich man, Daidle deedle 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 deedel daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich, Daidle deedle daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a rich man, Daidle deedle 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?