Fiddler on the Roof soundtrack – Tradition lyrics

ALL:
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!

TEVYE & PAPAS:
Who, day and night, must scramble for a living,
Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers?
And who has the right, as master of the house,
To have the final word at home?

ALL:
The papa, the papa! Tradition.
The papa, the papa! Tradition.

GOLDE & MAMAS:
Who must know the way to make a proper home,
A quiet home, a kosher home?
Who must raise the family and run the home,
So Papa's free to read the holy books?

ALL:
The mama, the mama! Tradition!
The mama, the mama! Tradition!

SONS
At three, I started Hebrew school.
At ten, I learned a trade.
I hear they've picked a bride for me.
I hope she's pretty.

DAUGHTERS
And who does Mama teach
To mend and tend and fix,
Preparing me to marry
Whomever Papa picks?

The daughters, the daughters! Tradition!

The papa, the mama, the sons, the daughters! Tradition!