Song of the Week: Brother Can You Spare A Dime

This week's song of the week is Brother Can you Spare a Dime. Written at the height of the depression in 1932 by E. Y. Harburg and Jay Gorney, Brother Can You Spare A Dime is sung from the point of view of a man who has built railroads, sky-scrappers and tilled the fields and fought in world wars but finds himself on the 'bread line'.

The version I am giving you is by Peter Yarrow, famous amongst other things for having been one third of one of the most popular American fold groups of all time, Peter, Paul and Mary. Recorded in 1975, I think its one of the better of the more recent versions of the song and certainly better than the horrible and somewhat bizarre version by the multi-millionare George Michael a couple of years ago.

Buddy Can You Spare A Dime:
Peter Yarrow

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?