If I Were A Rich Man

Oh, dear Lord, you made many, many poor people

I realize, of course, 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 ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum

All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a wealthy man

I wouldn't have to work hard

Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba 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

Squawking just as noisily as they can

And each loud of the gee, be it gow, be it geh, be it guh

Would land like a trumpet on the ear

As if to say, "Here lives a wealthy man"

Ah

If I were a rich man

Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum

All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a wealthy man

I, I wouldn't have to work hard

Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum

If I were a biddy biddy rich yidle-diddle-didle-didle man

I see my wife, my Goldie, 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

And that would be the sweetest thing of all

Ah

If I were a rich man

Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum

All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum

If I were a wealthy man

I wouldn't have to work hard

Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba 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?