If I Were a Rich Man

Dear God, you made many, many poor people
 I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor
 But it's no great honour, either
 So what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?
 If I were a rich man
 ♪
 All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum
 If I were a wealthy man
 I wouldn't have to work hard
 ♪
 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 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
 "Pa-pa-geeee! Pa-pa-gaack! Pa-pa-geeee! Pa-pa-gaack!"
 Would land like a trumpet on the ear
 As if to say, "Here lives a wealthy man"
 Oy
 If I were a rich man
 ♪
 All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum
 If I were a wealthy man
 I wouldn't have to work hard
 ♪
 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
 That would be the sweetest thing of all
 Oy!
 If I were a rich man
 ♪
 All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum
 If I were a wealthy man
 I wouldn't have to work hard
 ♪
 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?