Fiddler on the Roof is the original motion picture soundtrack of the 1971 film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical.
Released on August 24, 1971, the album features music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and a score adapted and conducted by John Williams.
Produced by director Norman Jewison with musical direction by Williams, the soundtrack brings to life the rich traditions, challenges, and emotions of a Jewish village in Tsarist Russia.
The album won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score and Adaptation. This blog features each song from the entire soundtrack.
1. Prologue & Main Title (Tradition)
A bold orchestral opening introduces recurring musical ideas tied to the film’s setting. Topol’s vocal cues align with traditional themes.
It sets the scene for the narrative and echoes motifs that will be heard later. The arrangement by Williams effectively balances vocal and instrumental forces, establishing tone and rhythm from the outset.
Prologue & Main Title (Tradition) Lyrics by Topol
Instrumental
TEVYE, spoken
A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn’t easy. You may ask, why do we stay up there if it’s so dangerous? We stay because Anatevka is our home… And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you
In one word… tradition!
ALL
Tradition! Tradition!
Tradition!
Tradition! Tradition!
Tradition!
TEVYE, spoken
Because of our traditions, we’ve kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka we have traditions for everything… how to sleep, how to eat, how to work, how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered and always wear a little prayer shawl… This shows our constant devotion to God
You may ask, why did this tradition get started? I’ll tell you why – I don’t know. But it’s a tradition, and because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do
PAPAS
Who day and night
Must scramble for a living
Feed the wife and children
Say his daily prayers
And who has the right
As master of the house
To have the final word at home?
ALL
The papa, the papas… tradition
The papa, the papas… tradition
MAMAS
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 book?
ALL
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 picked a bride for me
I hope… she’s pretty
ALL
The sons, the sons… tradition
The sons, the sons… tradition
DAUGHTERS
And who does mama teach
To mend and tend and fix
Preparing me to marry
Whoever papa picks?
ALL
The daughters, the daughters… tradition
The daughters, the daughters… tradition
*all parts repeated simultaneously as round*
PAPAS
The papas
MAMAS
The mamas
SONS
The sons
DAUGHTERS
The daughters
ALL
Tradition
PAPAS
The papas
MAMAS
The mamas
SONS
The sons
DAUGHTERS
The daughters
ALL
Tradition
TEVYE, spoken
And in the circle of our little village, we have always had our special types. For instance, Yente, the matchmaker
YENTE, spoken
Avram, I have a perfect match for your son. A wonderful girl
AVRAM, spoken
Who is it?
YENTE, spoken
Ruchel, the shoemaker’s daughter
AVRAM, spoken
Ruchel? But she can hardly see. She’s almost blind
YENTE, spoken
Tell the truth, Avram, is your son so much to look at? The way she sees and the way he looks, it’s a perfect match
TEVYE, spoken
And Nahum, the beggar
NAHUM, spoken
Alms for the poor, alms for the poor
LAZAR, spoken
Here, Reb Nahum, is one kopek
NAHUM, spoken
One kopek? Last week you gave me two kopeks
LAZAR, spoken
I had a bad week
NAHUM, spoken
So, if you had a bad week, why should I suffer?
TEVYE, spoken
And most important, our beloved Rabbi
MENDEL, spoken
Rabbi, may I ask you a question?
RABBI, spoken
Certainly, my son
MENDEL, spoken
Is there a proper blessing for the Tsar?
RABBI, spoken
A blessing for the tsar? Of course
(Sung)
May God bless and keep the Tsar… far away from us!
ALL, spoken
Ah
Di-di-di-di
Di-di-di-di
Di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di-di
TEVYE, spoken
Then there are the others in the village. His honor the constable, his honor the priest, his honor many many others. We don’t bother them, and so far, they don’t bother us
And among ourselves, we always got along perfectly well
Of course, there was the time when he sold him a horse, but delivered a mule, but that’s all settled now. Now we live in simple peace and harmony and
MAN 1, spoken
It was a horse
MAN 2, spoken
It was a mule
MAN 1, spoken
It was a horse
MAN 2, spoken
It was a mule
MAN 1, spoken
It was a horse
*Villagers arguing*
ALL, spoken
Horse! Mule! Horse! Mule! Horse! Mule!
(Sung)
Tradition, tradition… tradition
Tradition, tradition… tradition
TEVYE
Tradition, Tradition. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as, as … as a fiddler on the roof!
2. Matchmaker
Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh, and Neva Small sing as three sisters dreaming about future husbands.
Their playful voices show both excitement and worry. The lyrics ask the matchmaker for a perfect match but also warn of unwanted outcomes. The fun tone makes the song catchy and memorable.
Matchmaker Lyrics by Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh & Neva Small
HODEL, spoken
Tzeitel, you’re the oldest. Yente has to make a match for you before she can make one for me.
TZEITEL, spoken
Oh Yente, Yente!
HODEL, spoken
Well, somebody has to arrange the matches. Young people can’t decide these things for themselves.
CHAVA, spoken
Well, she might bring someone wonderful—
HODEL, spoken
Someone interesting—
CHAVA, spoken
And well off—
HODEL, spoken
And important—
(sung)
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
CHAVA
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
HODEL
For Papa
Make him a scholar
CHAVA
For Mama
Make him rich as a king
HODEL & CHAVA
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
HODEL
So find me a match
Of my own
TZEITEL, spoken
Since when are you interested in a match, Chava? I thought you just had your eye on your books. And you have your eye on the Rabbi’s son.
HODEL, spoken
Well, why not? We only have one Rabbi and he only has one son. Why shouldn’t I want the best?
TZEITEL, spoken
Because you’re a girl from a poor family. So whatever Yente brings, you’ll take, right? Of course right!
(sung, imitating YENTE)
Hodel, oh Hodel
Have I made a match for you
He’s handsome, he’s young
Alright, 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 found him
Won’t 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?
HODEL
Right
TZEITEL
You heard he has a temper
HODEL
He’ll beat you every night
TZEITEL
But only when he’s sober
TZEITEL & HODEL
So you’re alright
TZEITEL
Did you think you’d get a prince?
CHAVA
Well, I’ll find the best I can
TZEITEL & HODEL
With no dowry, no money, no family background
Be glad you got a man
CHAVA
Matchmaker, matchmaker
You know that I’m
Still very young
Please, take your time
HODEL
Up to this minute I misunderstood
That I could get stuck for good
TZEITEL, HODEL & CHAVA
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 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
3. If I Were a Rich Man
Topol’s strong voice expresses Tevye’s dream of wealth. Simple, rhythmic lyrics list imagined comforts, a nicer house, no hard work, and time for prayer.
He balances humor with sincerity, mixing chant-like lines and playful repetition. His performance makes the character’s hopes feel real and entertaining.
If I Were a Rich Man Lyrics by Topol
TEVYE, spoken
Oh dear Lord, 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?
(sung)
If I were a rich man
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
All day long I’d biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn’t have to work hard
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Idle-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
Squawking just as noisily as they can
And each loud *bird noises*
Would land like a trumpet on the ear
As if to say, “Here lives a wealthy man”
Oy
If I were a rich man
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
All day long I’d biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn’t have to work hard
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich
Idle-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
Oh, what a happy mood she’s in
Screaming at the servants day and night
*Screaming*
The most important men in town would come to fawn on me
They will 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
Ya-da-dee-da-da, ya-dee-da-da, ya-dee-da-da-da
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
And that would be the sweetest thing of all
Oy
If I were a rich man
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
All day long I’d biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man
I wouldn’t have to work hard
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba 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?
4. Sabbath Prayer
This song is a gentle Sabbath blessing for children. The lyrics wish for peace, kindness, and strong marriages. It honors tradition by mentioning matriarchs like Sarah and Rachel.
The calm voices and steady tune create a respectful and peaceful moment that reflects the family’s values.
Sabbath Prayer Lyrics by Topol & Norma Crane
TEVYE & GOLDE
May the Lord protect and defend you
May He always shield you from shame
May you come to be
In Yisroel 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
TEVYE
May God bless you and grant you long lives
GOLDE
May the Lord fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you
May God make you good mothers and wives
TEVYE
May He send you husbands who will care for you
ENSEMBLE
May the Lord protect and defend you (May the Lord protect and defend you)
May the Lord preserve you from pain (May the Lord preserve you from pain)
Favor them, oh Lord (Favor them, oh Lord), with happiness and peace (With happiness and peace)
Oh, hear our Sabbath prayer
TEVYE & ENSEMBLE
Amen
5. To Life
To Life, performed by the Cast of Fiddler on the Roof featuring Topol, is a joyful celebration of hope, health, and new beginnings.
The lyrics highlight unity between unlikely friends and the power of good spirits.
With its fast rhythms and cheerful energy, the song conveys a mood of happiness, connection, and embracing life fully despite challenges.
To Life Lyrics by Cast of Fiddler on the Roof
TEVYE, spoken
To our prosperity
To good health and happiness
And most important…
(sung)
To life! To life! L’chaim!
TEVYE & LAZAR
L’chaim, l’chaim, to life!
TEVYE
Here’s to the father I’ve tried to be
LAZAR
Here’s to my bride-to-be
TEVYE & LAZAR
Drink l’chaim, to life
To life, l’chaim
TEVYE
L’chaim, l’chaim, to life
Life has a way of confusing us
LAZAR
Blessing and bruising us
TEVYE & LAZAR
Drink l’chaim, to life
TEVYE
God would like us to be joyful
Even when our hearts lie
Panting on the floor
LAZAR
How much more can we be joyful
When there’s really something to be joyful for?
TEVYE & LAZAR
To life, to life, l’chaim
TEVYE
To Tzeitel, my daughter—
LAZAR
My wife
It gives you something to think about
TEVYE
Something to drink about
TEVYE & LAZAR
Drink l’chaim, to life
LAZAR, spoken
Mordcha.
MORDCHA, spoken
Yes, what is it, Lazar Wolf?
LAZAR, spoken
Reb Mordcha, drinks for everybody.
MORDCHA, spoken
What’s the big occasion, Lazar?
LAZAR, spoken
I am taking myself a bride.
MORDCHA, spoken
Who’s the lucky one?
LAZAR, spoken
Tevye’s eldest, Tzeitel!
MEN, spoken
Mazel tov!
MAN 1
To Lazar Wolf—
TEVYE
To Tevye!
MAN 2
To Tzeitel, your daughter—
LAZAR
My wife!
MEN
May all your futures be pleasant ones
Not like our present ones
Drink l’chaim, to life
To life, l’chaim
L’chaim, l’chaim, to life
It takes a wedding to make us say
“Let’s live another day”
Drink l’chaim, to life
We’ll raise a glass and sip a drop of schnapps
In honor of the great good luck that favored 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 l’chaim, to life
Instrumental Break
RUSSIAN
Ah, za va shas da rovia
Heaven bless you both, nasdrovia
To your health and may we
Live together in peace
Za va shas da rovia
Heaven bless you both, nasdrovia
To your health and may we
Live together in peace
RUSSIANS
Hey!
May you both be favored with the future of your choice
May you live to see a thousand reasons to rejoice
Za va shas da rovia
Heaven bless you both, nasdrovia
To your health and may we
Live together in peace
Hey!
Instrumental Break
TEVYE, spoken
To life!
6. Tevye’s Dream
Tevye’s Dream, performed by Norman Jewison, Patience Collier, Ruth Madoc, Norma Crane, and Topol, is a dramatic and playful song.
The lyrics describe a wild nightmare invented to sway a family decision. With spooky sounds and exaggerated voices, the song blends fear and humor to reveal clever thinking and household tension.
Tevye’s Dream Lyrics by Cast of Fiddler on the Roof
TEVYE, spoken
All right, this was my dream…In the beginning, I dreamt that we were having a celebration of some kind. All of our beloved departed were there. And musicians too! Even your great-uncle Mordecai, and, and your cousin Rachel was there. And in the middle of the dream, in walks your grandmother Tzeitel, may she rest in peace –
GOLDE, spoken
– Grandmother Tzeitel? How did she look?
TEVYE, spoken
Well, for a woman who’s been dead 30 years, she looked very good. Naturally, I went up to greet her:
G. TZEITEL and (MAN)
A blessing on your head (Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
To see a daughter wed (Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
And such a son-in-law
Like no-one ever saw
The tailor Motel Camzoil
GOLDE, spoken
Motel?
G. TZEITEL and (MAN)
A worthy boy is he (Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
Of pious family (Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
They named him after my
Dear uncle Mordecai
The tailor Motel Camzoil
GOLDE, spoken
A tailor? She must have heard wrong. She meant the butcher!
TEVYE, spoken
I’ll tell her!
(sung)
You must have heard wrong, Grandma
There’s no tailor
You mean the butcher, Grandma
By the name of Lazar Wolf
G. TZEITEL
No! No! No!
I mean the tailor, Tevye
My great-grandchild
My little Tzeitel who you named for me
Motel’s bride was meant to be
G. TZEITEL (and GUESTS)
For such a match I prayed (Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
In Heaven it was made (Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
A fine upstanding boy
A comfort and a joy
The tailor Motel Camzoil
GOLDE, spoken
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!
G. TZEITEL
So you announced it, Tevye
That’s your headache —
And as for Lazar Wolf, I say to you:
Tevye, that’s your headache too!
G. TZEITEL; GUESTS
A blessing on your house
Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov
Imagine such a spouse
Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov
And such a son-in-law
Like no one ever saw
The tailor Motel Camzoil
GOLDE, spoken
Stop them!
TEVYE, spoken
But he is a butcher!
G. TZEITEL; GUESTS
The tailor Motel Camzoil
TEVYE, spoken
His name is Lazar Wolf!
(sung)
The tailor Motel Cam-
GUESTS, various
– Sha! Sha!
Look who is this? Who is this? Who comes here?
Who? Who? Who? Who? Who?
What woman is this
By righteous anger shaken?
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
FRUMA SARAH
Tevye!
What is this about your daughter marrying my husband?
GUESTS
Yes, her husband!
FRUMA SARAH
Would you do this to your friend and neighbor Fruma Sarah?
GUESTS
Fruma Sarah!
FRUMA SARAH
Have you no consideration for a woman’s feelings?
GUESTS
Woman’s feelings!
FRUMA SARAH
Handing over my belongings to a total stranger!
GUESTS
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?
GUESTS
How can you allow your daughter to take her place?
FRUMA SARAH
Pearls!
GUESTS
House!
FRUMA SARAH
Pearls!
GUESTS
Keys!
FRUMA SARAH
Pearls!
GUESTS
Clothes!
FRUMA SARAH
Pearls!
GUESTS
How?
FRUMA SARAH
Such a learned man as Tevye wouldn’t let it happen!
GUESTS
Let it happen!
FRUMA SARAH
Tell me that it isn’t true and then I wouldn’t worry!
GUESTS
Wouldn’t worry!
FRUMA SARAH
Say you didn’t give your blessing to your daughter’s marriage
GUESTS
Daughter’s marriage
FRUMA SARAH
Let me tell you what would follow such a fatal wedding
GUESTS
Fatal wedding!
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 your Tzeitel
That I’ll give your Tzeitel
This I’ll give your Tzeitel
That I’ll give your Tzeitel
Here’s my wedding present if she marries Lazar Wolf!
(Company and Tevye scream)
Ai!
Ai!
Ai!
Ai!
GOLDE, speaking
Such a dark and evil spirit!
Let it fall into the river, let it sink into the earth!
Such a dark and horrible dream!
And to think, it was brought on by that butcher!
If my grandma Tzeitel, may she rest in peace
Took the time to come all the way from the other world to tell us about the tailor, all I can say is that it’s for the best, and couldn’t possibly get any better. Amen
TEVYE
Amen
GOLDE (sung)
A blessing on my head
Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov
Like Grandma Tzeitel said
Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov
We’ll have a son-in-law
Like no-one ever saw
The tailor Motel Camzoil
TEVYE
We haven’t got the man
(Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
We had when we began
(Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov)
But since your grandma came
She’ll marry… what’s his name?
GOLDE
The tailor, Motel Camzoil
GOLDE and TEVYE
The tailor Motel Camzoil
The tailor Motel Camzoil
The tailor Motel Camzoil
7. Miracle of Miracles
A cheerful and thankful tune, Miracle of Miracles performed by Leonard Frey, celebrates love with joy and wonder.
The lyrics compare romantic happiness to great biblical miracles, showing how special and rare it feels.
The upbeat rhythm and sincere words reflect excitement, gratitude, and the amazement of finding someone to love.
Miracle of Miracles Lyrics by Leonard Frey
MOTEL
Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles
God took a Daniel once again
Stood by his and 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 Pharaoh’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
8. Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise, Sunset, featuring Topol, reflects on the passage of time as parents watch their children grow.
The lyrics convey a sense of awe at how quickly life passes, capturing tender moments of family and tradition.
With a soft, steady melody and warm voices, the song shares feelings of love, pride, and the quiet beauty of change.
Sunrise, Sunset Lyrics by Cast of Fiddler on the Roof
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 grow to be so tall?
GOLDE
Wasn’t it yesterday when they were small?
ALL
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
WOMEN
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
ALL
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
TEVYE
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?
GOLDE
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day
PERCHIK
They look so natural together
HODEL
Just like two newlyweds should be
HODEL & PERCHIK
Is there a canopy in store for me?
ALL
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
9. Wedding Celebration and the Bottle Dance
Filled with joyful rhythms and traditional flair, Wedding Celebration and the Bottle Dance performed by the Cast of Fiddler on the Roof showcase a lively wedding scene.
The energetic music and famous bottle-balancing dance highlight cultural pride, family unity, and shared happiness, making it one of the most memorable moments in the production.
Wedding Celebration and the Bottle Dance lyrics
ENSEMBLE, spoken
Mazel tov!
Instrumental
ENSEMBLE, spoken
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
MAN, spoken
Quiet down! Quiet down!
Instrumental
ENSEMBLE
Ya ya ya ya
Ya ya ya ya
Instrumental
ENSEMBLE, spoken
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Hey! Hey!
Instrumental
ENSEMBLE, spoken
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
10. Anatevka
Life in a small village is the heart of Anatevka, featuring Topol. The lyrics reflect on leaving behind a familiar home filled with memories, struggle, and community ties.
With a slow, reflective tone and simple words, the song expresses sorrow, strength, and the connection people feel to their roots and traditions.
Anatevka Lyrics by Cast of Fiddler on the Roof
MENDEL, spoken
Rabbi, we’ve waited all our lives for the Messiah. Wouldn’t now be a good time for him to come?
RABBI, spoken
We’ll have to wait for him someplace else. Meanwhile, let’s start packing.
YENTE, spoken
Well, Anatevka hasn’t been exactly the Garden of Eden.
AVRAM, spoken
That’s true.
GOLDE, spoken
After all, what have we got here?
(sung)
A little bit of this
A little bit of that
AVRAM
A pot
LAZAR
A pan
MORDCHA
A broom
YENTE
A hat
TEVYE, spoken
Someone should have set a match to this place years ago.
LAZAR
A bench
MORDCHA
A tree
AVRAM
What’s a house?
GOLDE
Or a stove?
MORDCHA, spoken
People who pass through Anatevka don’t even know they’ve been here.
AVRAM
A stick of wood
LAZAR
A piece of cloth
ALL
What do we leave?
Nothing much
Only Anatevka
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
I belong in Anatevka
Tumble-down, work-a-day Anatevka
Dear little village, little town of mine
GOLDE, spoken
It’s just a place.
MORDCHA, spoken
Our forefathers have been forced out of many, many places at a moment’s notice.
TEVYE, spoken
Maybe that’s why we always wear our hats.
11. Far From the Home I Love
Far From the Home I Love, performed by Michele Marsh, conveys quiet strength and deep emotion.
The lyrics reveal a young woman’s inner conflict as she leaves behind her home for love.
With a gentle melody and heartfelt delivery, the song showcases the essence of sacrifice, longing, and the pain of choosing between one’s heart and family.
Far From the Home I Love Lyrics by Michele Marsh
TEVYE, spoken
And he asks you to leave your father and mother, and join him in that frozen wasteland, and marry him there?
HODEL, spoken
No, Papa, he did not ask me to go. I want to go.
TEVYE, spoken
Hodel…
HODEL, spoken
Papa…
(sung)
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
(spoken)
Papa, God alone knows when we shall see each other again.
TEVYE, spoken
Well then, we will leave it in His hands.
12. Do You Love Me?
Do You Love Me? Performed by Topol and Norma Crane, it is a tender and honest conversation between husband and wife.
The lyrics convey the meaning of love built over years of shared life. With simple words and soft humor, the song shows that love can grow quietly through care, habit, and commitment.
Do You Love Me? Lyrics by Topol & Norma Crane
TEVYE, spoken
Golde. Golde, he’s a good man. I like him. He’s a little crazy, but I like him. And, uh, what’s more important, Hodel likes him. Hodel loves him. So what can we do? It’s a new world, Golde, a new world. Love. Golde…
(sung)
Do you love me?
GOLDE, spoken
Do I what?
TEVYE
Do you love me?
GOLDE
Do I love you?
TEVYE, spoken
Well?
GOLDE
With our daughters getting married
And this trouble in the town
You’re upset, you’re worn out
Go inside, go lie down
(spoken)
Maybe it’s indigestion
TEVYE, spoken
Ah no, Golde, I’m asking you a question!
(sung)
Do you love me?
GOLDE, spoken
You’re a fool!
TEVYE, spoken
I know
(sung)
But do you love me?
GOLDE
Do I love you?
TEVYE, spoken
Well?
GOLDE
For twenty-five years I’ve washed your clothes
Cooked your meals, cleaned your house
Given you children, milked your cow
After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?
TEVYE, spoken
Golde
(sung)
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
(spoken)
And now I’m asking, Golde
(sung)
Do you love me?
GOLDE, spoken
I’m your wife!
TEVYE, spoken
I know
(sung)
But do you love me?
GOLDE
Do I love him?
TEVYE, spoken
Well?
GOLDE
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, spoken
I suppose I do
TEVYE
And I suppose I love you too
GOLDE & TEVYE
It doesn’t change a thing
But even so
After twenty-five years
It’s nice to know
13. Chava Ballet Sequence
Chava Ballet Sequence performed by Topol is a wordless, expressive piece that shows Tevye’s emotional struggle.
Through music and movement, it reflects his pain and inner conflict over Chava’s decision to marry outside their faith.
The haunting melody and visual storytelling effectively capture feelings of loss, love, and cultural tension without relying on dialogue.
Chava Ballet Sequence Lyrics by Topol
TEVYE
Little bird, little Chaveleh
I don’t understand what’s happening today
Everything is all a blur
All I can see is a happy child
The sweet little bird you were
Chaveleh, Chaveleh
Little bird, little Chaveleh
You were always such a pretty little thing
Everybody’s favorite child
Gentle and kind and affectionate
What a sweet little bird you were
Chaveleh, Chaveleh
14. Finale (Fiddler on the Roof)
Finale from Fiddler on the Roof, composed by John Williams, closes the story with a quiet and moving farewell. The music reflects the villagers’ forced departure from their home.
Without words, the melody carries sincere emotion, symbolizing endings, uncertainty, and the strength of tradition even in times of significant change.
Finale (Fiddler on the Roof) Lyrics by John Williams
This song is an instrumental
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Fiddler on the Roof Reflect Jewish Culture?
It features melodies, rhythms, and instruments inspired by Eastern European Jewish traditions and customs.
How are Silence and Pauses Used in the Fiddler on the Roof?
They highlight emotion, mark turning points, and give time for feelings to settle.