Here's to our prosperity,
our good health and happiness,
and most important ...
To life, to life, la kayim,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
Here's to the father I tried to be,
Here's to my bride-to-be,
Drink la kayim, to life,
To life, la kayim,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
Life has a way of confusing us,
Blessing and bruising us,
Drink la kayim, to life!
God would like us to be joyful,
even when our hearts lie
panting on the floor.
How much more can we be joyful,
when there's really something to be joyful for?
To life, to life, la kayim,
To Tzeitel, my daughter--my wife,
It gives you something to think about,
Something to drink about, Drink la kayim, to life!
(Le Morta! Yes, Lazar Wolf? Drinks for everyone!
What's the occasion? I'm taking myself a bride!
Who is it? Tevye's eldest, Tzeitel!)
To Lazar Wolf-- To Tevye!
To Tzeitel, your daughter--my wife!
May all your futures be pleasant ones,
Not like our present ones,
Drink la kayim, to life,
To life, la kayim,
La kayim, la kayim, to life,
It takes a wedding to make us say,
'Let's live another day,'
Drink la kayim, to life!
We'll raise a glass and sip a drop of schnapps
in honor of the great good luck that favors 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 la kayim, to life!
Heaven bless you both,
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!