In the play “Fiddler on the Roof”, there was originally a different song that Tevye sings as everybody is leaving their home.
“When Messiah Comes” lyrics
“Rabbi, we’ve been waiting our whole lives for the Messiah. Wouldn’t this be a good time for him to come?”
When Messiah comes he will say to us, / ”I apologize that I took so long, / But I had a little trouble finding you, / Over here a few and over there a few, / You were hard to reunite, but, / Everything is going to be alright.
Up in heaven there, how I wrung my hands / When they exiled you from the Promised Land, / And to Babylon you went like castaways, / On the first of many many moving days, / What a day and what a blow, / How terrible I felt you’ll never know.
Since that day, many men, / Said to us, “Get thee out!” / Kings they were, gone they are,
/ We’re still here.
When Messiah comes he will say to us, / ”Don’t you think I know what a time you’ve had? / Now I’m here you’ll see how quickly things improve, / You won’t have to move unless you want to move, / You shall never more take flight, / Yes, everything is going to be alright.”
When Messiah comes he will say to us, / ”I was worried sick if you’d last or not, / And I spoke to G-d and said ‘Would that be fair, / If Messiah came and there was no-one there?’ / And the Lord replied to me, / ‘Wait, everything will be alright you’ll see.’ “
Many times, many men, / Took our homes, took our lives, / Kings they were, gone they are, / We’re still here.
When Messiah comes and his reign begins, / Truth and justice then shall appear on earth.
But if this reward we would be worthy of, / We must keep our covenant with G-d above, / So be patient and devout, / And gather up your things and get thee out.
Some Videos
Sheldon Harnick, the composer, plays the piano here and then explains the background. The audience quite enjoys this performance.
A “Fiddler” cast recording (in English).
A recording by the last Tevye to perform this before it got cut.