IF I WERE A RICHMAN by Roger Wittaker

[TEVYE]
"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.
(Insert)Squawking just as noisily as they can. (End Insert)
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.
(Delete)If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man. (End Delete)
(Insert) Lord who mad ethe 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. (End Insert, End Song)



This song is a favorite of mines, for a number of reasons.

When I was a child, I looked forward to visiting my third eldest brother, in the southern part of the island here in TRINIDAD W.I... see, he loved music to0,and he worked in the energy sector, he was well off and purchase music albums and singles in bulk,. plus, he had a great and up to date stereo - room, with the latest music/stereo equipments/appliances.. THE BEST PART?... man, I got to stay at home and use all the equipments, play records and everything, wow, I was in heaven....

YOU GUESSED IT!... that’s when I first discover MR R.WHITTAKER....my bother bought the album, can't really remember, if THE LAST FAREWELL... single was in that album, but that’s when I got to know about him and his music... since then I have been hooked!... what a great voice too!

I TOO, promise (hee hee)that one day when I am a richman, I will build a house, just as MR WHITTAKER, describes here, with the same amount of staircases, one going up, and one even longer coming down, and one leading no ware just for show!... haa haa...not quite there yet though.

Well, so much for reason # 3!...I was young then, and really wasn't all that pre-occupy with wealth or riches, heck, didn't even know the meaning yet, but, I knew that I wanted to have a house just like that...............now I am much older and know far better that back then, and what life is all about… we know NOTHING comes easy… even if it may appear so to others, it just don’t.

MR ROGER WHITTAKER, was better known for his most popular and chart busting song entitled: THE LAST FAREWELL… what a beautiful song indeed. if you can find it (of course you can it's 2008 soon....but you have the www web on your side) get a copy of his CD and just listen to one of the best voices in music Dom.....ok?!

PS: BY THE WAY… A WONDERFUL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERY BODY ON THIS (STILL) BEAUTIFUL PLANET... ALL THE BEST OF THE BEST TO YOU ALL!