Music Video
Fiddler on the roof - If I were a rich man (with subtitles)
Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
John Williams
Conductor
Chaim Topol
Vocals
"Fiddler on the Roof" Motion Picture Orchestra
Orchestra
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Jerry Bock
Composer
Sheldon Harnick
Lyrics
Alexander Courage
Orchestrator
John Williams
Orchestrator
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Norman Newell
Producer
Lyrics
Oh, dear Lord
You made many, many poor people
I realize of course it's not a 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
Idle-diddle, di-dle, di-dle man
I'd build a big tall house with the 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-
Will land like a trumpet on the ear
As if to say, "Here lives a wealthy man"
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
Idle-diddle, di-dle, di-dle man
I'd 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'll see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock
Oh, 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
Ya-da-di-da-da
Ya-da-da-da
Ya-da-da-da-da
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
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?
Written by: Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick
