French Lyrics

IF I WERE A RICH MAN
DAIDLE, DEEDLE DAIDLE
DIGGUH DIGGUH 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
DIGGUH DIGGUH DEEDLE DAIDLE DUM
IF I WERE A BIDDY BIDDY RICH
DIGGUH DIGGUH DEEDLE 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 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 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, ETC.

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
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 SOLOMON THE
WISE
"IF YOU PLEASE, REB TEVYE ... PARDON ME, REB TEVYE ..."
POSING PROBLEMS THAT WOULD CROSS A RABBI'S EYES.
(HE chants)

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
THIS WOULD BE THE SWEETEST THING OF ALL ...
(Sigh)
IF I WERE A RICH MAN
DAIDLE DEEDLE DAIDLE

DIGGUH DIGGUH DEEDLE DAIDLE DUM
ALL DAY LONG I'D BIDDY BIDDY BUM
IF I WERE A WEALTHY MAN

WOULDNT HAVE TO WORK HARD
DAIDLE DEEDLE DAIDLE
DIGGUH 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?

Translation