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Also performed by:
Language:
English
Album:
Fiddler On The Roof: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Recording (1971)
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 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.
Squawking just as noisily as they can.
With each loud "cheep" "squawk" "honk" "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.
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.
13
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Song details
unionmaid
Subtitles created on 27 Dec 2025 - 14:58
Submitter's comments:
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Music by Jerry Bock
Book by Joseph Stein
Copyright:
Writer(s): Lewis Bock Jerrold, Sheldon Harnick
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
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Idioms
Related
Wenn ich einmal reich wär
German version
Ah si j'étais riche
French version
Wenn ich einmal reich wär (If I Were a Rich Man)
German version
Als ik toch eens rijk was (If I Were A Rich Man)
Dutch version
װען איך בין אַ ראָטשילד [If I were a rich man]
Yiddish version
Gdybym był bogaty [If I were a rich man]
Polish version
Kdybych tak byl Rothschild [If I were a rich man]
Czech version
Ah, se eu fosse rico [If I were a rich man]
Portuguese version
Si yo fuera rico [If I were a rich man]
Spanish version
לו הייתי רוטשילד [If I were a rich man]
Hebrew version
Πλούσιος αν ήμουν [If I Were a Rich Man]
Greek version
Якби був я Ротшильд [If I were a rich man]
Ukrainian version
Bir Zengin Olsam Ben [If I Were a Rich Man]
Turkish theatre version.
Ah Bir Zengin Olsam
Turkish cover version.
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Comments 10
https://youtu.be/lWYHsnc94b8
- https://youtu.be/S018AFHnh5Q
Added :)
What translate it? - Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum. If I were a biddy biddy rich, Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.
You added it as an idiom and it wasn't an idiom, so I unpublished it. Please be serious.
also by Topol
Chaim Topol is the one who sings it in the film "Fiddler on the Roof", so this songs is performed by him and not "also", but indeed there's no way to add such information.
It could be added as featuring artist.
Added.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc