Depression, in the style of Fiddler on the Roof.

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... Depression.

Depression, depression... depression

Because of our depressions,

We've kept our balance for many, many years.

Here in Anatevka we have depression 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 depression start?

I'll tell you - I don't know. But it's depression...

Because of our depressions,

Everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do.

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?

The papa, the papas... depression

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?

The mama, the mama... depression

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

The sons, the sons... depression

And who does mama teach

To mend and tend and fix

Preparing me to marry

Whoever papa picks?

The daughters, the daughters... depression

And in the circle of our little village,

We have always had our special types.

For instance, Yente, the matchmaker...

And Nahum, the beggar...

And most important, our beloved Rabbi...

And among ourselves, we get 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...

Depression, depression... depression

Depression, depression... depression

Depression. Without our depressions,

Our lives would be as shaky as... as a fiddler on the roof!