If I were a rich man daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle 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

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum

If I were a biddy-biddy rich

Daidle deedle daidle 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 the 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

Would 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

Daidle daidle 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

Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum

If I were a biddy-biddy rich

Daidle deedle daidle 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

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 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

Seven hours every day

This would be the sweetest thing of all

If I were a rich man daidle deedle daidle

Daidle daidle 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

Daidle 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