Tuesday 3 April 2012

ABC Wednesday, L for Life and L' chaim.


Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics  by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905.  The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and Jewish religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives. He must cope with both the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters—each one's choice of husband moves further away from the customs of his faith—and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village.

To life, to life, l'chaim.
L'chaim, l'chaim, to life.
Here's to the father I tried to be!
Here's to my bride to be!
Drink, l'chaim, to life!

To life, to life, l'chaim.
L'chaim, l'chaim, to life.
Life has a way of confusing us,
Blessing and bruising us.
Drink, l'chaim, to life!

God would like us to be joyful,
Even when our hearts lie panting on the floor.
But how much more can we be joyful
When there's really something to be joyful for?

To life, to life, l'chaim.
To Tzeitel, my daughter.
My wife.
It gives you something to think about,
Something to drink about.
Drink, l'chaim, to life.

(Reb Mordcha!
Reb Lazar!
Drinks for everyone!
What's the occassion?
I'm picking myself a bride!
Who's it to be?
Tevye's daughter Tzeitel!)

To Lazar Wulf! To Tevye!
To Tzeitel, your daughter!
My wife!
May all your futures be pleasant ones,
Not like our present ones!
Drink, l'chaim, to life!

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!

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with L.

18 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

Fiddler is my second favorite musical, after West Side Story.

Sylvia K said...

I'm with Roger, Fiddler is one of my top five favorite musicals. Great post for the L Day, Wil! Hope your week is going well! Enjoy!

Sylvia

anthonynorth said...

My favourite song from Fiddler is definitely If I Were A Rich Man. A great musical.

Scriptor Senex said...

A great song to choose.

EG CameraGirl said...

Love this! Fiddler on the Roof is such a great musical!

Hildred said...

Wonderful musical, - I did enjoy the video Wil. Here's to Life!

Anonymous said...

appropriate for this time of the year


loose collars

ChrisJ said...

Love the story and the music, but I never read the book. I think I should.

Reader Wil said...

Zongrik! Thanks for your comment. I can not comment on your blog for your blog doesn't recognize my password! Sorry!

Kim, USA said...

Love that story and I like the music too. Thanks for the visit.


I am inviting you to join me here
Water World Wednesday

Carver said...

Great post for L day. This brought back memories for me because when I was a senior in high school I played the matchmaker in Fiddler on the roof. Carver, ABC Wednesday Team

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

I LOVE this movie and saw the play on Broadway when I was a girl. GREAT "L" post! Thank you for the warm nostalgic feeling I leave with.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Yes! To LIFE!

Rajesh said...

Beautiful lyrics. Thanks for sharing.

The Poet said...

Hello.
My wife & I love this movie. Nice choice for this week.
BTW, what a fantastic header photo you have. Awesome view from the top!
Thanks for sharing & visiting.

Like A Lotus

Chubskulit Rose said...

Don't know the song, thanks for sharing.

Littlest Petshop
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Unknown said...

Yes, to life, dear Wil! Have a blessed Easter - the feast of life:)

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis» echoes what Roger Owen Green wrote!