Once I built a railroad, 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 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-doodle-dum,

Half a million boots

Went slogging 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.

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

Brother, can you spare a dime?