"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"
Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney
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OVERVIEW
The song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” written by Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney,
became the anthem of the Great Depression. The song appeared in Americana, a musical
revue that opened in 1932, in New York.
GUIDED READING As you read, consider the following questions:
• What socioeconomic class is the subject of this song?
• During any economic downturn, what socioeconomic class is likely to suffer the
most and why?
“BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?”
They used to tell me I was building a dream,
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plough or guns to bear
I was always there right there 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, 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-de-dum.
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"
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Half a million boots went sloggin’ thru Hell,
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!
Buddy, can you spare a dime?
Source: “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” by E.Y. Harburg and Jay Gorney. Copyright © 1928 (renewed
1955) by Harms, Inc. U.S. rights controlled by Gorney Music and Glocca Morra Music. All U.S. rights
administered by The Songwriters Guild of America. Reprinted by permission of Harms, Inc.
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"
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