If I were a rich man

If I were a rich man
Daidle deedle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man

I wouldn't have to work hard
Daidle deedle daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Deedle daidle deedle daidle man

I'd build a big tall house
With rooms by the dozen
Right in the middle of town
A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below
There could 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 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 deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man

I wouldn't have to work hard
Daidle deedle daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Deedle daidle deedle 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

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 hour every day
That could be the sweetest thing of all

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
The 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 a rich man
Daidle deedle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man

I wouldn't have to work hard
Daidle deedel daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Daidle deedle daidle deedle daidle dum

If I were a rich man
Daidle deedle 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?

Jerry Bock - Sheldon Harnick

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