Fiddler on the Roof lyrics

[TEVYE]
(spoken)
All right, only... don't be frightened! In the beginning I dreamt that we were having a celebration of some kind.
Everybody we knew was there. Musicians too. Suddenly, in comes your grandma Tzietl, may she rest in peace.
Naturally, I went up to greet her, and she said:

(sung)

[GRANDMA TZEITL]
A blessing on your head
(Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
To see a daughter wed

A little bit of this, a little bit of that.

A pot, a pan, a broom, a hat.

Someone should have set a match to this place years ago.

A bench, a tree.

So, what's a stove? Or a house?

People who pass through Anatevka don't even know they've been here.

A stick of wood. A piece of cloth.

What do we leave? Nothing much.

Only Anatevka.

Anatevka, Anatevka.

Underfed, overworked Anatevka.

[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,

(Tevye)

"Golde, I have decided to give Perchik permission to become engaged to our daughter, Hodel."

(Golde)

"What??? He's poor! He has nothing, absolutely nothing!"

(Tevye)

"He's a good man, Golde.

I like him. And what's more important, Hodel likes him. Hodel loves him.

So what can we do?

It's a new world... A new world. Love. Golde..."

Do you love me?

(Golde)

Do I what?

(Tevye)

Far From The Home I Love

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,

[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.

Hodel:

Well, somebody has to arrange the matches,

Young people can’t decide these things themselves.

Chava:

She might bring someone wonderful----

Hodel:

Someone interesting----

Chava:

And well off----

Hodel:

And important---

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

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles-

God took up Daniel once again,

Stood by his and side and- miracle of miracles-

Walked him through the lions den!

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles-

I was afraid that God would frown,

But like he did so long ago, at Jericho,

God just made a wall fall down!

When Moses softened Pharaohs heart, that was a miracle.

[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.)

(Tevye)

Is this the little girl I carried?

Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)

I don't remember growing older

When did they?

(Tevye)

When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he get to be so tall?

(Golde)

Wasn't it yesterday

When they were small?

(Men)

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers

Blossoming even as we gaze

To Life

Here's to our prosperity, our good health and happiness,

and most important ...

To life, to life, L'Chiam
L'Chiam, L'Chiam, to life,

Here's to the father I tried to be,

Here's to my bride-to-be,

Drink lachyim, to life,

To life, L'Chiam,

L'Chiam, L'Chiam, to life,

Life has a way of confusing us,

Blessing and bruising us,

Drink L'Chiam, to life!

Where are you going my little one, little one?

Where are you going, my baby, my own?

Turn around and you're two

Turn around and you're four

Turn around and you're a young girl

Going out of the door

Turn around, turn around, turn around
And you're a young girl going out of the door

Where are you going, my little one, little one

Little dirndls and petticoats

Oh where have you gone?