And in the midst of it they ran1

They used to tell me I was building a dream,
so I followed me
the mob.

When there was earth to plow or guns to bear,
I was right there
on the job.


They used to tell me I was building a dream,
peace and glory ahead.
Why should I be standing in line
just waiting for some 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 to the sun—brick, rivet, and lime.
Once I built a tower.
Now it's done brother can you spare a dime.

Once in khaki suits I'm telling you we looked swell.
Full of that Yankee Doodle Dum—half a million boots through hell.

[And I, 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?

_________

1 Adapted From Harburg, Y. (1931) Brother, can you spare a dime? Retrieved 24 September 2008 from http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/cherries.html.