Tradition, tradition. Tradition!
Tradition, tradition. Tradition!

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!

Who must know the way to make a proper home,
A quiet home, a kosher home,
Who must raise a family and run the home
So Papa's free to read the holy books?
The mama, the mama. Tradition!
The mama, the mama. Tradition!

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 sons, the sons. Tradition!
The sons, the sons. Tradition!

And who does Mama teach to tend and mend and fix,
Preparing me to marry whoever Papa picks?
The daughters, the daughters. Tradition!
The daughters, the daughters. Tradition!

(All sing all above verses together)

Tradition, tradition. Tradition!
Tradition, tradition. Tradition!

  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.

Since when are you interested in a match, Chava? I thought you just
had your eyes on your books. And you have your eye on the rabbi's son!

Well, why not? We have only one rabbi, he has only one son. Why shouldn't
I want the best?

Because you're a girl from a poor family. So whatever Yente brings,
you'll take. Right? Of course right!

Hodel, oh Hodel, have I made a match for you.
He's handsome, he's young . . . all right, he's sixty-two,
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've got a man.

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

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'd had a small fortune?

If I were a rich man,
Yaha-deeuh-deeuh-deeuh-deeuh-deeuh-deeuh-dum,
All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum,
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard,
Yaha-deeuh-buua-buua-buua-deeba-deeba-dum
If I were a biddy-biddy-rich
Yida-deeda-dida-dida-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 could 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,
Squawking just as noisily as they can.
And each loud (prolonged squawk)
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say, "Here lives a wealthy man."

(Repeat chorus)

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 will come to fawn on me,
They will ask me to advise them,
Like Solomon the Wise.
"If you please, Rev Tevye,
Pardon me, Rev Tevye,"
Posing problems that would cross a rabbi's eyes.
La-de, la-de, la-la.
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
Seven hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.

If I were a rich man,
Yaha-deeuh-deeuh-deeuh-deeuh-deeuh-deeuh-dum,
All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum,
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard,
Yaha-deeuh-buua-buua-buua-deeba-deeba-dum
Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan
If I were a wealthy man?

May the Lord protect and defend you,
May He always shield you from shame,
May you come to be in years full well a shining name.
May you be like Ruth and like Esther,
May you be deserving of praise,
Strengthen them o Lord and keep them from the stranger's way.
May God bless you and grant you long life (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 o Lord with happiness and peace,
O hear our sabbath prayer,
Amen.

Here's to our prosperity, our good health and happiness, 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,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
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!

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, miracle 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 of the Red Sea part, that was a miracle too,
But of all God's miracles, large and small, the most miraculous one of all
Is that out of a 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 manna in the wilderness, that was a miracle too,
But of all God's miracles, large and small, the most miraculous one of all
Is the one I thought could never be: God has given you to me!

(Tevye)
"Help! Help!"

(Golde)
"Tevye, Tevye, wake up! What is it? What's the matter with you? Why are you howling like that?"

(Tevye)
"Where is she? Where is she?"

(Golde)
"Where is who? Who are you talking about?"

(Tevye)
"Fruma-Sarah, the butcher's first wife. She was standing there a minute ago!"

(Golde)
"What's the matter with you, Tevye? Fruma-Sarah's been dead for years! You must have been dreaming. Tell me what you dreamed, and I'll tell you what it meant."

(Tevye)
"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 grandmother Tzeitel, may she rest in peace. Naturally, I went up to greet her... And she said..."

(Grandma)
A blessing on your head

(Rabbi)
Mazeltov, mazeltov

(Grandma)
To see a daughter wed

(Rabbi)
Mazeltov, mazeltov
And such a son-in-law
Like no one ever saw
The tailor Motel Kamzoil

(Golde)
"Motel?"

(Grandma)
A worthy boy is he

(Rabbi)
Mazeltov, mazeltov

(Grandma)
Of pious family

(Rabbi)
Mazeltov, mazeltov

(Grandma)
They named him after my
Dear Uncle Mordecai
The tailor Motel Kamzoil

(Golde)
"A tailor! She must have heard wrong. She meant a butcher."

(Tevye)
You must have heard wrong, Grandma
There's no tailor
You mean a butcher, Grandma
By the name of Lazar Wolf

(Grandma)
No! I mean a tailor, Tevye
My great grandchild
My little Tzeitel who you named for me
Motel's bride was meant to be

For such a match I prayed

(Chorus)
Mazeltov, mazeltov

(Grandma)
In heaven it was made

(Chorus)
Mazeltov, mazeltov

(Grandma)
A fine upstanding boy
A comfort and a joy
The tailor Motel Kamzoil

(Golde)
"But we announced it already. We made a bargain with the butcher."

(Tevye)
But we announced it, Grandma
To our neighbors
We made a bargain, Grandma
With the butcher, Lazar Wolf

(Grandma)
No! So you announced it, Tevye
That's your headache
But as for Lazar Wolf, I say to you
Tevye, that's your headache too

(Chorus)
A blessing on your house, mazeltov, mazeltov
Imagine what a spouse, mazeltov, mazeltov
And such a son-in-law
Like no one ever saw
The tailor Motel Kamzoil

The tailor Motel Kamzoil

(Tevye)
The tailor Motel Kamz...

(Chorus)
Shah! Shah!
Look!

Who is this?
Who is this?
Who comes here?
Who? Who? Who? Who?
What woman is this
By righteous anger shaken?

(Solo Voices)
Could it be?
Sure?
Yes it could?
Why not?
Who could be mistaken?

It's the butcher's wife come from beyond the grave
It's the butcher's dear darling departed wife
Fruma-Sarah, Fruma-Sarah
Fruma-Sarah, Fruma-Sarah, Fruma-Sarah, Fruma-Sarah

(Fruma-Sarah)
Tevye! Tevye!
What is this about your daughter marrying my husband?

(Chorus)
Yes, her husband

(Fruma-Sarah)
Would you do this to your friend and neighbor, Fruma-Sarah

(Chorus)
Fruma-Sarah

(Fruma-Sarah)
Have you no consideration for a woman's feelings

(Chorus)
Woman's feelings?

(Fruma-Sarah)
Hand over my belongings to a total stranger

(Chorus)
Total stranger

(Fruma-Sarah)
How can you allow it, how?
How can you let your daughter take my place?
Live in my house... Carry my keys
And wear my clothes... pearls... how?

(Chorus)
How can you allow your daughter
To take her place...

(Fruma-Sarah)
Pearls...

(Chorus)
House... Keys... Clothes... How?

(Fruma-Sarah)
Such a learned man as Tevye wouldn't let it happen

(Chorus)
Let it happen

(Fruma-Sarah)
Tell me that it isn't true and then I wouldn't worry

(Chorus)
Wouldn't worry

(Fruma-Sarah)
Say you didn't give your blessing to your daughter's marriage

(Chorus)
Daughter's marriage

(Fruma-Sarah)
Let me tell you what would follow such a fatal wedding

(Chorus)
Fatal wedding, shh!!

(Fruma-Sarah)
If Tzeitel marries Lazar Wolf
I pity them both
She'll live with him three weeks
And when three weeks are up
I'll come to her by night
I'll take her by the throat
And...
This I'll give you Tzeitel
That I'll give you Tzeitel
This I'll give you Tzeitel
Here's my wedding present if she marries Lazar Wolf!

(Golde)
"It's an evil spirit! May it fall into the river; may it sink into the earth. Such a dark and horrible dream. And to think it was brought on by that butcher. If my grandmother, Tzeitel, may she rest in peace, took the trouble to come all the way from the other world to tell us about the tailor, all we can say is that it is all for the best, and it couldn't possibly be any better. Amen."

(Tevye)
"Amen."

(Golde)
A blessing on my head, mazeltov, mazeltov
Like Grandma Tzeitel said, mazeltov, mazeltov
We'll have a son-in-law
Like no one ever saw
The tailor Motel Kamzoil

(Tevye)
We haven't got the man

(Golde)
Mazeltov, mazeltov

(Tevye)
We had when we began

(Golde)
Mazeltov, mazeltov

(Tevye)
But since your Grandma came
She'll marry what's his name?

(Golde)
The tailor Motel Kamzoil

(Both)
The tailor Motel Kamzoil
The tailor Motel Kamzoil
The tailor Motel Kamzoil

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

This is an instrumental track.

(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)
Do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I love you?
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 the cow
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
And now I'm asking, Golde
Do you love me?

(Golde)
I'm your wife

(Tevye)
"I know..."
But do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I love him?
For twenty-five years I've lived with him
Fought 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

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 would come
Who would change the shape of my 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 every hope but his
Leaving the home I love

There where my heart has settled long ago
I must go, I must go
Who could imagine I'd be wandering so
Far from the home I love
Yet there with my love I'm home.

This is an instrumental track or I just don't have the lyrics for it.

Anatevka, Anatevka
Underfed overworked Anatevka
Where else could sabbath be so sweet?

Anatevka, Anatevka
intimate, obstinate Anatevka
Where I know everyone I meet.

Soon I'll be a stranger in a strange new place
Searching for an old familiar face
from Anatevka

Anatevka, Anatevka
I belong in Anatevka
Dear little village little town of mine.

This is an instrumental track.