To Life
Jerry Bock Lyrics
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and most important ...
To life, to life, la kayim,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
Here's to the father I tried to be,
Here's to my bride-to-be,
Drink la kayim, to life,
To life, la kayim,
Life has a way of confusing us,
Blessing and bruising us,
Drink la kayim, to life!
God would like us to be joyful, even when our hearts lie
panting on the floor.
How much more can we be joyful, when there's really
something to be joyful for?
To life, to life, la kayim,
To Tzeitel, my daughter--my wife,
It gives you something to think about,
Something to drink about,
Drink la kayim, to life!
(Le Morta!
Yes, Lazar Wolf?
Drinks for everyone!
What's the occasion?
I'm taking myself a bride!
Who is it?
Tevye's eldest, Tzeitel!)
To Lazar Wolf--
To Tevye!
To Tzeitel, your daughter--my wife!
May all your futures be pleasant ones,
Not like our present ones,
Drink la kayim, to life,
To life, la kayim,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
It takes a wedding to make us say,
"Let's live another day,"
Drink la kayim, to life!
We'll raise a glass and sip a drop of schnapps in honor of
the great
good luck that favors you,
We know that when good fortune favors two such men, it
stands to reason,
we deserve it too!
To us and our good fortune!
Be happy, be healthy, long life!
And if our good fortune never comes,
Here's to whatever comes,
Drink la kayim, to life!
Heaven bless you both, to your health and may we live
together in peace!
May you both be favored with the future of your choice,
May you live to see a thousand reasons to rejoice!
We'll raise a glass and sip a drop of schnapps in honor of
the great
good luck that favors you,
We know that when good fortune favors two such men, it
stands to reason,
we deserve it too!
To us and our good fortune!
Be happy, be healthy, long life!
And if our good fortune never comes,
Here's to whatever comes,
Drink la kayim, to life!
The song "To Life" from the musical Fiddler on the Roof is a joyous celebration of life, filled with gratitude for the good things the characters have been blessed with, and a prayer for more to come. The opening line establishes a tone of good cheer and appreciation for all the wonderful things life has to offer. The lyrics express a desire to celebrate each other's successes and never take anything for granted.
The second stanza brings us to the theme of life's confusing nature - a mix of blessings and bruises. This is an acknowledgement that life is not always easy and straightforward, but it is still worth celebrating. The lyrics then turn to religious teachings about being joyful, even when we face difficult times. This is a powerful message about the importance of finding happiness and hope even in the midst of adversity.
The final stanza leads us to the reason for the celebration, an impending wedding between Tzeitel and Lazar Wolf. The song then shifts from the general celebration of life to the specific joy of being united in marriage. It is a tribute to the tradition of raising a glass and offering a toast to the bride and groom's future happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's to our prosperity, our good health and happiness, and most important ...
Let us raise our glasses to the things that matter most in life - success, well-being, and joy.
To life, to life, la kayim, La kayim, la kayim, to life,
We celebrate the gift of life and all it has to offer.
Here's to the father I tried to be, Here's to my bride-to-be, Drink la kayim, to life, To life, la kayim, La kayim, la kayim, to life,
I honor the roles I play in life as a father and groom, and toast to all of the goodness that life has to offer.
Life has a way of confusing us, Blessing and bruising us, Drink la kayim, to life!
Life is complex and brings both blessings and challenges, but we toast to life nonetheless.
God would like us to be joyful, even when our hearts lie panting on the floor. How much more can we be joyful, when there's really something to be joyful for?
Even in tough times, we are called to find joy, and we have even more reason to celebrate when there is abundance in our lives.
To Tzeitel, my daughter--my wife, It gives you something to think about, Something to drink about, Drink la kayim, to life!
I honor my daughter and new wife, and we all find meaning in toasting to life and all of its possibilities.
To Lazar Wolf-- To Tevye! To Tzeitel, your daughter--my wife! May all your futures be pleasant ones, Not like our present ones, Drink la kayim, to life,
We toast to friends and family, and celebrate their bright futures and hope for something different from the present.
It takes a wedding to make us say, 'Let's live another day,' Drink la kayim, to life!
Weddings bring a renewed sense of appreciation for life and its possibilities, and we raise our glasses to that.
We'll raise a glass and sip a drop of schnapps in honor of the great good luck that favors you, We know that when good fortune favors two such men, it stands to reason, we deserve it too! To us and our good fortune! Be happy, be healthy, long life! And if our good fortune never comes, Here's to whatever comes, Drink la kayim, to life!
We celebrate the good fortune of others, recognizing that we too deserve abundance and joy. And if it doesn't come, we raise a toast to whatever life may bring us.
Heaven bless you both, to your health and may we live together in peace! May you both be favored with the future of your choice, May you live to see a thousand reasons to rejoice!
We offer our blessings to the couple, wishing them health and happiness, and hope that they are able to create the future they desire, filled with joy.
Contributed by Declan O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.