TRADITION

TEVYE
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!

TEVYE & PAPAS
Who, day and night, must scramble for a living,
Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers?
And who has the right, as master of the house,
To have the final word at home?

The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.
The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.

GOLDE & MAMAS
Who must know the way to make a proper home,
A quiet home, a kosher home?
Who must raise the family and run the home,
So Papa's free to read the holy books?

The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!
The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!

SONS
At three, I started Hebrew school. At ten, I learned a trade.
I hear they've picked a bride for me. I hope she's pretty.

The son, the son! Tradition!
The son, the son! Tradition!

DAUGHTERS
And who does Mama teach to mend and tend and fix,
Preparing me to marry whoever Papa picks?

The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!
The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!

MATCHMAKER

HODEL & CHAVA
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.
Find me a find, catch me a catch.
Matchmaker, matchmaker, look through your book
And make me a perfect match.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, I'll bring the veil.
You bring the groom, slender and pale.
Bring me a ring, for I'm longing to be
The envy of all I see.

For Papa, make him a scholar.
For Mama, make him rich as a king.
For me, well, I wouldn't holler
If he were as handsome as anything.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.
Find me a find, catch me a catch.
Night after night, in the dark, I'm alone.
So, find me a match of my own.

TSEITEL
Hodel, oh Hodel, have I made a match for you.
He's handsome! He's young! All right, he's 62
But he's a nice man, a good catch. True? True!
I promise you'll be happy. And even if you're not,
There's more to life than that. Don't ask me what!

Chava! I've found him! Will you be a lucky bride!
He's handsome. He's tall! That is, from side to side
But he's a nice man, a good catch, Right? Right!
You've heard he has a temper. He'll beat you every night
But only when he's sober- so you're all right!

Did you think you'd get a prince?
Well I do the best I can.
With no dowry, no money, no family background,
Be glad you got a man!

Matchmaker, matchmaker, you know that I'm
Still very young. Please, take your time
Up to this minute, I've misunderstood
That I could get stuck for good

Dear Yenta, see that he's gentle
Remember, you were also a bride
It's not that I'm sentimental
It's just that I'm terrified!

Matchmaker, matchmaker, plan me no plans
I'm in no rush. maybe I've learned
Playing with matches a girl can get burned
So bring me no ring, groom me no groom,
Find me no find, catch me no catch
Unless he's a matchless match!

IF I WERE A RICH MAN

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.
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.

SABBATH PRAYER

MOTHERS AND FATHERS
May the Lord protect and defend you.
May He always shield you from shame.
May you come to be
In Israel a shining name.

May you be like Ruth and like Esther.
May you be deserving of praise.
Strengthen them, Oh Lord,
And keep them from the strangers' ways.

May God bless you and grant you long lives.
(May the Lord fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you.)
May God make you good mothers and wives.
(May He send you husbands who will care for you.)

May the Lord protect and defend you.
May the Lord preserve you from pain.
Favor them, Oh Lord, with happiness and peace.
Oh, hear our Sabbath prayer. Amen.

TO LIFE

Here's to our prosperity, our good health and happiness, and most important ...
To life, to life, le chiem,
Le chiem, le chiem, to life,
Here's to the father I tried to be,
Here's to my bride-to-be,
Drink le chiem, to life
To life, to life, le chiem
Le chiem, le chiem, to life
Life has a way of confusing us
Blessing and bruising us,
Drink le chiem, 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, le chiem,
To Tzeitel, my daughter--my wife,
It gives you something to think about
Something to drink about
Drink le chiem, 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 le chiem, to life,
To life, le chiem,
Le chiem, le chiem, to life,
It takes a wedding to make us say,
"Let's live another day,"
Drink le chiem, 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 le chiem, 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 le chiem, to life!

MIRACLE OF MIRACLES

Wonder of wonders,
Miracle of miracles,
God took a Daniel once again,
Stood by his side and
Miracle of miracles
Walked him through the lion's den.
Wonder of wonders,
Miracles of miracles,
I was afraid that God would frown,
But like He did so long ago in Jericho,
God just made a wall fall down.

When Moses softened Pharoah's heart,
That was a miracle
When God made the waters od the Red Sea part
That was a miracle, too.
But of all God's miracles, large or small,
The most miraculous one of all
Is that out of worthless lump of clay,
God has made a man today.

Wonder of wonders,
Miracle of miracles,
God took a tailor by the hand
Turned him around and
Miracle of miracles,
Led him to the Promised Land.
When David slew Goliath, yes!
That was a miracle
When God gave us a manna in the wilderness,
That was a miracle, too.
But of all God's miracles, large or small,
The most miraculous one of all
Is that one I thought could never be
God has given you to me.

SUNRISE, SUNSET

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they
Were small?
Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their ways?
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day
They look so natural together
Just like two newleyweds should be
Is there a canopy in store
For me?
Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

NOW I HAVE EVERYTHING

PERCHIK
I used to tell myself,
That I had everything,
But that was only half true.
I had an aim in life,
And that was everything,
But now I even have you...
I have something that I would die for,
Someone that I can live for too, yes,
Now I have everything,
Not only everything,
I have a little bit more...
Besides having everything,
I know what everything's for.

I used to wonder could there be a wife,
To share such a difficult, wandering kind of life.

HODEL
I was only out of sight,
Waiting right here!

PERCHIK
Who knows tomorrow where our home will be?

HODEL
I'll be with you,
And that's home enough for me.

PERCHIK
Everything is right at hand,

BOTH
Simple and clear....

PERCHIK
I have something that I could die for,
Someone that I can live for too, yes,
Now I have everything,
Not only everything,
I have a little bit more...
Besides having everything,
I know what everything's for!

DO YOU LOVE ME?

TEVYE
Do you love me?

GOLDE:
Do I what?

TEVYE
Do you love me?

GOLDE
Do I love him? With our daughters getting married
And this trouble in the town,
You're upset, you're worn out,
Go inside, go lie down maybe it's indigestion.

TEVYE
Golde I'm asking you a question!
Do you love me?

GOLDE
You're a fool!

TEVYE
I know but do you love me?

GOLDE
Do I love you?
For twenty five years I've washed your clothes,
Cooked your meals,
Cleaned your house,
Given you children,
Milked your cows,
After twenty five years
Why talk about love right now?

TEVYE
Golde, the first time I met you was on our wedding day,
I was scared

GOLDE
I was shy

TEVYE
I was nervous

GOLDE
So was I

TEVYE
But my father and my mother said,
We'd learn to love each other,
So now I'm asking Golde,
Do you love me?

GOLDE:
I'm your wife!

TEVYE:
But do you love me?

GOLDE:
Do I love him?
For twenty five years I've lived with him,
Fought with him,
Starved with him,
Twenty five years--
My bed is his,
If that's not love, what is?

TEVYE:
Then you love me?

GOLDE:
I suppose I do

TEVYE:
And I suppose I love you too

BOTH
It doesn't change a thing, but even so,
After twenty five years,
It's nice to know.

FAR FROM THE HOME I LOVE

HODEL
How can I hope to make you understand
Why I do what I do,
Why I must travel to a distant land,
Far from the home I love.
Once I was happily content to be
As I was, where I was,
Close to the people who are close to me,
Here in the home I love.
Who could see that a man could come
Who would change the shape of his dreams.
Helpless now I stand with him,
Watching older dreams grow dim.

Oh, what a melancholy choice this is,
Wanting home, wanting him,
Closing my heart to ev'ry hope but his,
Leaving the home I love,
There where my heart has settled long ago
I must go, I must go, I must go,
Who could imagine I'd be wand'ring so
Far from the home I love
Yet there with my love, I'm home.

How can she think we wouldn't understand
Why she does what she does,
Why she must travel to a distant land,
Far from the home she loves.
Once she was happily content to be
As she was, where she was,
Safe in the bosom to her family,
Here in the home she loves.
Who could see that a man could come
Who would change the shape of my dreams.
Helpless now she stands with him,
Watching older dreams grow dim.
Oh, what a melancholy choice this is,
Wanting home, wanting him,
Closing her heart to ev'ry hope but his,
Leaving the home she loves

There where her heart has settled long ago
She must go, she must go, she must go,
Who could imagine she'd be wand'ring so
Far from the home she loves
Yet there with her love, she's home.

ANATEVKA

Anatevka,
Anatevka,
Underfed
Overworked Anatevka.
Where else could Sabbath be so sweet?
Anatevka,
Anatevka,
Intimate, obstinate Anatevka,
Where I know ev'ryone I meet.
Soon I'll be a stranger in a strange new place,
Searching for an old familiar face
From Anatevka.
I being in Anatevka,
Tumble down, work-a-day Anatevka,
Dear little village,
Little town of mine.

Anatevka,
Anatevka,
Underfed,
Overworked Anatevka.
Where else could Sabbath be so sweet?
Anatevka,
Anatevka,
Intimate, obstinate Anatevka,
Where I know ev'ryone I meet.
Soon I'll be a stranger in a strange new place,
Searching for an old familiar face
From Anatevka.
I being in Anatevka,
Tumble down, work-a-day Anatevka,
Dear little village,
Little town of mine.