Roger Whittaker (born Roger Henry Brough Whittaker in Nairobi, Kenya, on 22… Read Full Bio ↴Roger Whittaker (born Roger Henry Brough Whittaker in Nairobi, Kenya, on 22 March 1936; died 13 September 2023 ) was a British singer-songwriter and musician remembered for his eclectic mix of folk music and popular song, his baritone singing voice, and his trademark whistling skills.

He became widely known for his version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1982), as well as his own compositions "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970), his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell" (his only single to hit the US Billboard Hot 100, making it to the Top 20).

Whittakers first chart success came in 1969 when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".

Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Whittaker had success in Germany, with German language songs produced by Nick Munro (unable to speak German at that time, Whittaker sang the songs phonetically). In time he became more fluent in German and sang and was interviewed in German on Danish television in November 2008. Whittaker retired from touring in 2013.

If I Were A Rich Man
Roger Whittaker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

"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.
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.

If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.

Overall Meaning

In Roger Whittaker's If I Were A Rich Man, the singer is expressing his desire to be wealthy and own material possessions without any worries. He begins by acknowledging that there are many poor people in the world and it is not something to be ashamed of. However, he also says it is not an honor either. The singer then goes on to imagine what he would do if he were a rich man, from building a large house with a fine roof and wooden floors, to filling his yard with various animals for people to see and admire.

The singer also imagines his wife, Golde, becoming a proper rich man's wife with a double chin and the ability to supervise meals to her heart's content. Finally, he speaks of the respect and admiration that would come with being rich, as well as the free time to study and become a wise scholar. Overall, the song speaks to the human longing for financial stability, comfort, and freedom from the constraints of poverty.

Line by Line Meaning

Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
Acknowledging the abundance of poverty that exists in the world.

I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.
Poverty is not something to be ashamed of or judged for.

But it's no great honor either!
However, being poor is not necessarily a desirable or honorable way of life.

So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?
Questioning why it would be so bad to have a small fortune of his own.

If I were a rich man, Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
Imagining what it would be like if he were wealthy.

All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
Enjoying the luxurious lifestyle that comes with being rich, free from the drudgery of hard work.

If I were a wealthy man. I wouldn't have to work hard.
Not having to work hard because he is now wealthy.

If I were a biddy biddy rich, Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.
Reiterating his fantasy of being a wealthy man.

I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen, Right in the middle of the town.
Fantasizing about building a large mansion in the heart of town.

A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below.
Picturing the extravagant details of his dream home.

There would be one long staircase just going up, And one even longer coming down, And one more leading nowhere, just for show.
Daydreaming about the grandness of his household, including a large stairway with one set of stairs leading nowhere.

I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese and ducks For the town to see and hear.
Fantasizing about owning a variety of animals that showcase his wealth to the town.

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."
Thinking about how every sound from his animals would serve as a reminder to the town of his wealth and status.

I see my wife, my Golde, looking like a rich man's wife With a proper double-chin.
Visualizing his wife looking like a wealthy woman, with a well-fed appearance.

Supervising meals to her heart's delight.
Knowing that his wife would be in charge of meal preparation and thrilled to do so.

I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock.
Observing his wife feeling entitled and flaunting her wealth like a proud peacock.

Oy, what a happy mood she's in. Screaming at the servants, day and night.
Reflecting on how his wife, now wealthy, would likely become intolerant and demanding towards their household servants.

The most important men in town would come to fawn on me!
Picturing the most important people in town coming to him in admiration and awe.

They would ask me to advise them, Like a Solomon the Wise.
Being sought after for his wisdom, likened to that of King Solomon.

"If you please, Reb Tevye..." "Pardon me, Reb Tevye..." Posing problems that would cross a rabbi's eyes!
Being approached with complex problems that could stump even a learned rabbi.

And it won't make one bit of difference if i answer right or wrong. When you're rich, they think you really know!
Noting how, regardless of his knowledge or ignorance on a topic, people simply assume he knows everything because he is wealthy.

If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack To sit in the synagogue and pray.
Envisioning all the free time he would have to spend at the synagogue, something he lacks in his current situation.

And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.
Contemplating the possibility of having a prime seat in the synagogue, by the prestigious Eastern wall.

And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day.
Fantasizing about spending long hours discussing religious scripture with scholarly people.

That would be the sweetest thing of all.
Knowing that this religious study and worship would be the most fulfilling thing about being wealthy.

Lyrics © BOCK IP LLC, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lewis Bock Jerrold, Sheldon Harnick

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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