If I Were a Rich Man
Rolf Harris Lyrics

Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
Oh God, you have made a lot of people who are poor in this world.

I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.
I understand that it is not a shameful thing to be poor.

But it's no great honor either!
However, it does not bring any great honor either.

So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?
So, what could be so bad if I had a small fortune?

If I were a rich man, Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I was a rich person, I would feel extremely happy and joyous all day long.

All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
I would just wander and pass my time without any worries if I had wealth.

If I were a wealthy man. I wouldn't have to work hard.
I would not have to work hard if I was wealthy.

I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen, Right in the middle of the town.
I would construct a big, spacious house in the center of the town having numerous rooms.

A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below.
The building would have a fancy tin roof and wooden floors.

There would be one long staircase just going up, And one even longer coming down, And one more leading nowhere, just for show.
The house would have a long staircase from the bottom to the top, an even longer staircase coming back down, and one staircase just for show.

I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese and ducks For the town to see and hear.
I'd fill my yard with chickens, turkeys, geese & ducks for the people of the town to watch 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.'
Each 'cheep', 'swaqwk', 'honk' & 'quack' will be so loud that the people will feel like the noises are proclaiming 'Here lives a rich man.'

I see my wife, my Golde, looking like a rich man's wife With a proper double-chin.
My wife, Golde, would look like a proper rich woman having a double chin.

Supervising meals to her heart's delight.
She would be supervising the meals as per her wish.

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.
She would be walking around proudly, shouting orders to the servants and being in a very happy mood.

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!
The most important men in town would come to me for advice, treating me as a wise man like King Soloman. They would pose questions that are so tricky, even scholars and rabbi's would struggle to answer.

And it won't make one bit of difference if i answer right or wrong. When you're rich, they think you really know!
It won't matter if I answer the questions rightly or wrongly because the people in town think that people who are rich are bound to know more than others.

If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack To sit in the synagogue and pray.
If I were wealthy, I would have the time to go to 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.
I would have a booth near the Eastern wall where I would talk and discuss holy books with knowledgeable men for several hours each day.

That would be the sweetest thing of all.
This would be the sweetest experience.

If I were a rich man, Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I was a rich person, I would feel extremely happy and joyous all day long.

All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
I would just wander and pass my time without any worries if I had wealth.

If I were a wealthy man. I wouldn't have to work hard.
I would not have to work hard if I was wealthy.

If I were a biddy biddy rich, Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.
If I were a person with little wealth, I would still be joyous and greatly content.