Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

- words by Edgar "Yip" Harburg, music by Jay Gorney

- from the third (1932) edition of the hit Broadway revue "Americana".

- Edgar "Yip" Harburg (1898-1981) was a former electrician made bankrupt

during the Depression.

- Jay Gorney (1896-1990) was a Russian-born American composer, author

and Hollywood film-producer.

- as recorded by Bing Crosby with Lennie Hayton & his Orchestra

October 25, 1932 in New York.



They used to tell me I was building a dream

And so I followed the mob

When their was earth to plow or guns to bear

I was always their right on the job



They used to tell me I was building a dream

With peace and glory ahead

Why should I be standing in line

Just waiting for bread?



Once I built a railroad, I made it run

Made it race against time

Once I built a railroad, now it's done

Brother, can you spare a dime?



Once I built a tower up to the sun

Brick and rivet and lime

Once I built a tower, now it's done

Brother, can you spare a dime?



Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell

Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum

Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell

And I was the kid with the drum



Say, don't you remember, they called me "Al"

It was "Al" all the time

Why don't you remember, I'm your pal

Say buddy, can you spare a dime?



Once in khaki suits, ah gee we looked swell

Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum

Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell

And I was the kid with the drum



Oh, say, don't you remember, they called me "Al"

It was "Al" all the time

Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal

Buddy, can you spare a dime?