Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

Jay Gorney, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg.

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, 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.
Half a million boots went sloggin’ through 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?