Dear 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
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Yidle diddle didle didle 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
And each loud cheep and swaqwk and honk and quack
Would land like a trumpet on the ear
As if to say Here lives a wealthy man
If I were a rich man
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Yidle diddle didle didle 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 would come to fawn on me
They would 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
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, several hours every day
That would be the sweetest thing of all
If I were a rich man
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Yidle diddle didle didle man