Benoit Courti Photography
Classic song by Jay Gorney and E.Y. Harburg. Perhaps the best known Depression-era song, Brother (or Buddy) Can You Spare a Dime? was initially recorded by Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee but has also been a host of other singers, including Al Jolson, Peter Paul and Mary, and George Michael.It was used in a musical, featured in Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential election campaign and reached number one on the sales charts.

The lyrics tell of the feelings of despair and betrayal felt by the working classes, who had built the infrastructure and fought for their country in World War I - but were now suffering the indignity of soup queues and shanty towns:

"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?"

Note: No copyright infringement intended. This is for entertainment purposes only.

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