[Ayoob_Reloaded]

They used to tell me I was building a dream
And so I followed the mob.
When there was earth to plow or guns to bear,
I was always there, 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 Doodle-de-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.
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 Doodle-de-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.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal --
Buddy, can you spare a dime?

[tmazanec1]

It'll be "can you spare a buck" this time around...gotta factor in inflation, ya know!

[PenultimateManStanding]

Right around the corner no doubt. And where is Bing Crosby when we need him?

[bart]

Thanks for posting the song -- quite appropriate. I've always loved it, but never thought to research it. Turns out to be written by Edgar "Yip" Harburg, who also wrote lyrics for the Wizard of Oz.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')dgar Y. (Yip) Harburg (1896-1981) was born of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents of modest means on Manhattan's Lower East Side. He attended the City University of New York. In high school (Townsand Harris) he met his lifelong friend, Ira Gershwin and discovered that they shared a mutual love for the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. Yip and Ira were frequent contributors of poetry and light verse to their high school and college papers.

The years after college found Yip slipping further away from writing and eventually into the world of business. After the electric appliance business Yip had helped develop over seven long years was decimated by the stock market crash of 1929, Yip turned his attention back full time to the art of writing lyrics. His old friend Ira Gershwin became a mentor, co-writer and promoter of Yip's.

Mr. Harburg's Broadway achievements included Bloomer Girl, Finnian's Rainbow, Flahooley and Jamaica.

His most noted work in film musicals was in The Wizard of OZ for which he wrote lyrics, was the final editor and contributed much to the script (including the scene at the end where the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion are rewarded for their efforts by the Wizard). He also wrote lyrics for the Warner Brothers movie, Gay Purr-ee.

Yip was "blacklisted" during the 50's by film, radio and television for his liberal views.

In all, Yip wrote lyrics to 537 songs including; "Brother Can You Spare a Dime", "April In Paris", "It's Only a Paper Moon", "Hurry Sundown", "Lydia the Tattooed Lady", "How Are Things In Glocca Mora" and of course his most famous... "Over the Rainbow".
http://www.choreographics.com/harburg/yipbiog.htm

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'R')ight around the corner no doubt. And where is Bing Crosby when we need him?

[PenultimateManStanding]

Thanks a million for that bart. This brings up the issue of what The Wizard Of Oz was about. My theory has been that its about the choices a young girl is faced with and how confusing it is because what a man puts forward turns out to be his weakness.

Oh I could tell you why
The ocean's near the shore!
And then I'd stop, and think some more!

When a man's an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And not be torn apart!

What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage!

Thanks to Frank Baum and Kip Harburg for what is probably the best movie ever made. So many fine people immigrated here and I love my country no matter if there is corruption in high places.

[PenultimateManStanding]

Be the Bing! My aged mother's birthday is coming up and I have found that you don't need the internet to collect music - its in the public libraries! I'm making a tape of music for her with Bing Crosby (btw, my mom's father was the groundskeeper/gardener for Bing Crosby right here in Rancho Santa Fe in SD county. She knew Bing as a girl and even got to ride race horses around the Del Mar race track) Also on the tape will be Fats Waller, Jimmy Dorsey, etc.