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If I Were a Rich Man Lyrics by Chuck Cooper

Prince of Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

2018

[TEVYE, spoken]
Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, it's no shame to be poor. It's no great honor either. So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?
(sung)
If I were a rich man
Daidle deedle daidle daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
Wouldn't have to work hard
Daidle deedle daidle daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Deedle daidle daidle deedle man
I'd build a big tall housе with rooms by the dozen
Right in the middlе 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, squawk, honk, gobble
Would land like a trumpet on the ear
As if to say, "Here lives a wealthy man"
If I were a rich man
Daidle deedle daidle daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man (Ah ha!)
I wouldn't have to work hard
Daidle deedle daidle daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Deedle daidle daidle deedle 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 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
Bah bee bah, bah bee bah, bah bah
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
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
Oy, if I were a rich man
Daidle deedle daidle daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man (Ha ha!)
Wouldn't have to work hard
Daidle deedle daidle daidle daidle 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?
Credits
Chuck Cooper

Chuck Cooper

About “If I Were a Rich Man” by Chuck Cooper

Read the complete lyrics to "If I Were a Rich Man" by Chuck Cooper from the album "Prince of Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2018. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Musicals, Pop.

"If I Were a Rich Man" is performed by Chuck Cooper. from the album "Prince of Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2018 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "If I Were a Rich Man", explore more songs by Chuck Cooper using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"If I Were a Rich Man" is credited to Chuck Cooper. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"If I Were a Rich Man" appears on "Prince of Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2018.

Visit the Chuck Cooper artist page at /artist/chuck-cooper for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.