If I Were A Rich Man

Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, that its no shame to be poor.
But its 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 Id biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man .
I wouldnt 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.
Id 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.
Id 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 Id biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldnt 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 mans wife
With a proper double-chin.
Supervising meals to her hearts delight.
I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock.
Oy, what a happy mood shes 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 rabbis eyes!
And it wont make one bit of difference if i answer right or wrong.
When youre rich, they think you really know!
If I were rich, Id have the time that I lack
To sit in the synagogue and pray.
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.
And Id 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 Id biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldnt 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.