"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 honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?"

If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle 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 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
And each loud "cheep" and "swaqwk" and "honk" and "quack"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say "Here lives a wealthy man"

If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle 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 would come to fawn on me!
They would 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, several hours every day
That would be the sweetest thing of all

If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work hard
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man