Music and Stories-Do You Love Me?

 

"Do You Love Me?" is a song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. 

It was filmed primarily in Croatia but partly in England, and first released in Amsterdam in October, 1971. Performed by Tevye (Topol) and Golde (Norma Crane), composed by Jerry Bock and written by Sheldon Harnick.

    The Fiddler on the Roof is an analogy. It's centered around a Jewish family in Russia. Our protagonist is primarily Tevye, who happens to be the father of five daughters. Daughters who are hell-bent on defying tradition in the name of love. This is not easily digested by Tevye, tradition is everything to him. He likens living in his small Russian town of Anatevka to being a fiddler on a roof. He says "A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, 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?' Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!". He says that the only way they're able to maintain their balance and order is through the careful recognition of tradition. When his eldest daughter Tzeitel is matched with Lazar Wolf (a much older, respected, wealthy man who promises to treat her well), she tells her father that she is already in love with her lifelong friend Motel. Tevye, out of love for his daughter, breaks tradition and a verbal contract as well as defies the matchmakers wishes in order to bless his daughters marriage. This introduces a pivotal question, does Tevye's wife of twenty-five years love him? It was, after all, an arranged marriage. So after twenty-five years, Tevye finally decides to ask her; "Do You Love Me?".

Musical Elements:

Simple Opening: 

"Do You Love Me?" begins with a single note repeated before moving on to lyrics. This allows the lyrics to carry the emphasis that they require. Golde's silence at first feels awkward, as is in line with the story. Tevye's never asked her before and isn't sure of her answer- neither are we. 

The Absence of Clichés: 

The song continues on while both Golde and Tevye in essence refuse to admit their love for each other... until of course, they do. Even then, the song continues with "it doesn't mean a thing!" as a means to undercut the sentiment. 

Harmony:

The song ends with Tevye and Golde harmonizing. This is a stark shift from how the song begins. Golde grows softer and softer in harshness and snide as the song progresses, finishing with a gentle harmony that provides the listener with closure in regards to the state of Tevye's and Golde's marriage. 

Tempo:

The tempo remains relatively mellow. It's an Adagio (slow) song with around 66 beats per minute. 

    This story carries immense historical significance. As I mentioned, the movie tells the tale of a Jewish family living in pre-revolutionary Russia (modern day Ukraine)- specifically, the Pale of Settlement of the Russian Empire. This was one of the only places Jewish people were allowed to live. The movie resolves with an edict that all Jewish people must vacate Anatevka in three days. They had three days to pack up their lives into what they could carry on their backs and never come back to the homes they had built. The family had to split up, each attempting to save enough money to return to each other. To me, the lesson here is that love knows no bounds, traditions are beautiful but must grow as we do, and family (born or made) above all else will save us. Traditions keep us grounded amid change and provide stability in an otherwise unpredictable world. In "Do You Love Me?", Tevye is grasping at his traditions. He is desperately trying to prove if not to his family, then to himself, that an arranged marriage can work and that love can bloom where it is planted. 

    The Fiddler on the Roof is 'almost' a tragedy. It tells the woeful story of a family divided, of religious segregation, suppression, and poverty. However, it does an impeccable job of shading the darker, more sinister truth of the plot with moments of hope and even happiness. "Do You Love Me?" is an excellent example of this. One is unable to do anything but smile at Tevye and Golde's endearing banter, even when Tevye is facing an internal battle between tradition, and the love of his eldest daughter whom he truly just wants happiness for. This movie is one that keeps my undivided attention. I rarely enjoy musicals, they're just not really my style. So, imagine my surprise that as each musical number opened, I found myself smiling out of anticipation. It doesn't feel gimmicky or overly jaunty, it's raw and deep and insightful. It's one of my favorite movies primarily because of its soundtrack. 

“Fiddler on the Roof.” IMDb, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/title/tt0067093/fullcredits.

Grimes, Parker. Characters: Fiddler on the Roof. 7 Feb. 2017, www.bard.org/study-guides/characters-fiddler-on-the-roof. 

Menezes, Isabel de Andrade Bezerra, et al. “The Historical Background Of ‘Fiddler On The Roof.’” The Odyssey Online, 5 Aug. 2020, www.theodysseyonline.com/the-historical-background-of-fiddler-on-the-roof.