If I Were a Tishman

Song Meaning

Allan Sherman's "If I Were a Tishman" isn't just a silly parody of "If I Were a Rich Man"; it's a sharply observed satire of mid-century American ambition and the changing urban landscape. Sherman, a master of musical caricature, zeroes in on the Tishman Realty & Construction company, who were transforming New York City's skyline at the time. The song skewers the almost childlike glee of unchecked development, reducing the complexities of urban planning to a simple desire to "buildy buildy build." It’s a commentary on the hubris of power and the allure of wealth, distilled through the lens of real estate. The "yum di diddle" refrains, far from being mere filler, underscore the absurdity of it all. Sherman highlights the disconnect between the grandiose vision of erecting towering structures and the mundane realities of office life, right down to the locked restrooms – a detail that speaks volumes about access, control, and the anxieties of modern urban existence. The imagined power to raise rents at will, dismissing tenants with a casual "You can call me pish," exposes the ruthless side of capitalism lurking beneath the shiny facade of progress. In essence, Sherman uses humor to critique the social and economic forces shaping the modern city, reminding us that even the most impressive achievements can be tinged with self-serving motives.