If I Were A Rich Man

IF I WERE A RICH MAN
W: Sheldon Harnick
M: Jerry Bock
Key:C



7 -6  7  -6  6    5
If I were a rich man,
6  -6  7   -6  7  -6
Ya ha dee-dle dee-dle, 
6   -6  7  -7 -7* -7  -7* -7   7
Bub-ba bub-ba dee-dle dee-dle dum.
7*   7   -6* -6  -5* -5  5  -5 -5*
All day long I'd bid-dy bid-dy bum.
-5*-5 5  -5  -5*   5  7
If I were a wealth-y man.
7     -6   7   -6  6    5
Would-n't have to work hard.
6  -6  7   -6  7   -6
Ya ha dee-dle dee-dle, 
6   -6  7  -7 -7*  -7 -7* -7   7
Bub-ba bub-ba dee-dle dee-dle dum.
7* 7 -6* -6 -5* -5  5  -5 -5*
If I were a bid-dy bid-dy rich,
-5* -5  5  -5*  -5 5  -4  -5  5
Yid-le-did-dle-did-le-did-le man.

6    -6   7 7*   7*    7*
I'd build a big tall house 
7*     7*  -7* 8  -7* 7*
with rooms by the doz-en,
7      7  7   7   7  7   7    7
Right in the mid-dle of the town.
7  -6   -6  -6   -6
A fine tin roof with 
-6     7  7*   7    -6  6
real wood-en floors be-low.
6       -6  7   7*  7*    7*   7*
There would be one long stair-case 
7*  -7*  8  -7*
just go-ing up,
7*   7  7  7   7   7   7    7  7  
And one e-ven long-er com-ing down,
7    -6  -6   -6   -6 -5*  -5    
And one more lead-ing no-where, 
5   -5*  7
just for show.

6    -6  7   -7   -7    -7 
I'd fill my yard with chicks 
-7   -7  -8   8   -8   -7   7
and tur-keys and geese and ducks
7    7   7   7   7   7   7
For the town to see and hear.
-6      -6  -6  -6  6   7 -7 7  -6    6
Squawk-ing just as nois-i-ly as they can. 
6    -6   7     7*     7*    7*
And each loud "cheep" and "squawk" 
7*    7* -7*  8    -7*
and “gob-ble and "honk" 
7*     7    7   7  7   7   7   7   7
Would land like a trum-pet on the ear,
7  -6 -6  -6   -6   -5* -5  5    -5* 7  
As if to say "Here lives a wealth-y 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.
(Delete)If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man. 
 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.

Fiddler on the Roof;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc