uploaded to YouTube September 2010
FATHER OF BRIDE: I want to thank all of you for being here, all our friends and family, and you know Lin, you're not expecting this but I think you can help me toast all our friends and family, so please come up and join me.
C'mon don't be shy, you've been here before.
Ah, how should I start. Well we all want money so -- here's to our prosperity.
LIN: To our health and happiness ...
And most importantly ...
'TO LIFE' FROM FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (ORIGINAL LYRICS BELOW: NAMES HAVE BEEN PERSONALISED)
(Tevye)
"Here's to our prosperity. Our good health and happiness. And most important,"
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
(Both)
Drink, l'chaim, to life, to life, l'chaim
L'chaim, l'chaim, to life
(Tevye)
Life has a way of confusing us
(Lazar)
Blessing and bruising us
(Both)
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
(Both)
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
(Both)
Drink, l'chaim, to life
(Lazar - spoken)
"Reb Mordcha."
(Mordcha - spoken)
"Yes, Lazar Wolf."
(Lazar - spoken)
"Drinks for everybody."
(Mendel - spoken)
"What's the occasion?"
(Lazar - spoken)
"I'm taking myself a bride."
(All - spoken)
"Who? ... Who?"
(Lazar - spoken)
"Tevye's eldest, Tzeitel."
(All - spoken)
"Mazeltove... wonderful... congratulations."
(All - sung)
To Lazar Wolf
(Tevye)
To Tevye
(All)
To Tzeitel, your daughter
(Lazar)
My wife
(All)
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
Dai-dai-dai-dai-dai-dai-dai
Dai-dai-dai-dai-dai-dai-dai
Dai-dai-dai-dai-dai-dai-dai
Dai-dai-dai-dai-dai-dai-dai
(Russian)
Zachava zdarovia
Heaven bless you both nazdrovia
To your health and may we live together in peace
Zachava zdarovia
Heaven bless you both nazdrovia
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
(Other Russians)
Zachava zdarovia
Heaven bless you both nazdrovia
To your health and may we live together in peace
(There is an instrumental bridge here wherein the choreography encompasses the "bottle dance" featured in this number that
is performed by the "Russian" characters.)
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
(Tevye)
To life!