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 COULD BE ONE LONG STAIR CASE 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.
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 SEE MY WIFE 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 SOLOMAN THE WISE,
`IF YOU PLEASE, REB TEVYE, PARDON ME, REB TEVYE.`
POSING PROBLEMS THAT WOULD CROSS A RABBI`S EYES.
BOI, BOI, BOI, BOI, BOI, BOI, BOI, BOI, BOI.
AND IT WON`T MAKE ONE BIT OF DIFF`RENCE
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 A 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 EV`RY 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?