Chaim Topol - Prologue lyrics

TEVYE: "A fiddler on the roof"? Sounds crazy, no? But 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. CHORUS: Tradition, tradition... tradition Tradition, tradition... tradition TEVYE: Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka we have traditions for everything: how to eat, how to sleep, even, 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, how did this tradition start? I'll tell you: I don't know. But it's a tradition. Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do.