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 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, I made it run
I made it run against time
Once I built a railroad, and now it's done
Buddy can you spare a dime
Once I built a tower way up to the sun
With bricks and mortar and lime
Once I built a railroad, and now it's done
Brother can you spare a dime
Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum
Half a million boots went slogging through hell
I was the kid with the drum
Oh say, don't you remember
You called me Al
It was Al all the time
Say, don't you remember I was your pal
Buddy, can you spare a dime
Say, don't you remember
You called me Al
It was Al all the time
Say, don't you remember I was your pal
Buddy, can you spare a dime
Buddy, can you spare a dime
Written by: Edgar "Yip" Harburg(1)
Published by: [?], © 1932
Official release: "Brother Can You Spare me A Dime?"
(various artists compilation, recorded for the National Fund-Raising Day of Action), 1992
Originally performed by Rex Weber in the Broadway revue "Americana", 1932
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plow, 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, I made it run
I made it run against time
Once I built a railroad, and now it's done
Buddy can you spare a dime
Once I built a tower way up to the sun
With bricks and mortar and lime
Once I built a railroad, and now it's done
Brother can you spare a dime
Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum
Half a million boots went slogging through hell
I was the kid with the drum
Oh say, don't you remember
You called me Al
It was Al all the time
Say, don't you remember I was your pal
Buddy, can you spare a dime
Say, don't you remember
You called me Al
It was Al all the time
Say, don't you remember I was your pal
Buddy, can you spare a dime
Buddy, can you spare a dime
Written by: Edgar "Yip" Harburg(1)
Published by: [?], © 1932
Official release: "Brother Can You Spare me A Dime?"
(various artists compilation, recorded for the National Fund-Raising Day of Action), 1992
Originally performed by Rex Weber in the Broadway revue "Americana", 1932