(spoken) What would have
been so terrible,
If I had
a small fortune?
If I were a rich man
Daidle deedle daidle
digguh digguh
deedle daidle dum
All day long
I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
Wouldn't have to work hard
Daidle deedle daidle
digguh digguh
deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Digguh digguh
deedle 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 quack
and cluck
and gobble
and honk
Will land like a
trumpet on the ear
As if to say
here lives a wealthy man
ah....
If I were a rich man
Daidle deedle daidle
digguh digguh
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
digguh digguh
deedle daidle dum
If I were a
biddy biddy rich
Digguh digguh
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
Oi! 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 Solomon The Wise
''lf you please Reb Tevye''
''Pardon me, Reb Tevye''
Poising problems that
would cross a Rabbi's eyes.
boi boi boi boi
boi boi boi boi
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
Daidle deedle daidle
digguh digguh
deedle daidle dum
All day long
I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
Wouldn't have to work hard
Daidle deedle daidle
digguh digguh
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?
