Brother, Can you
Spare a Dime? (1932)
E. Y, Harburg
and Jay Gorney
They used to tell me I was building a dream,
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plough 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, 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.
Made of 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’ thru Hell,
And I was the guy 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?
All In Down and
Out Blues (1937)
If she hippity hop
to the bucket shop
I lost all my money and now I have flopped
It’s hard times hey poor boy
It’s hard times when you down ‘n out
Well this is the truth and it certainly exposes
Wall Street proposition was not all roses
It’s hard times hey poor boy
It’s hard times when you down ‘n out
I put up my money to win some more
I lost all I had and it’s left me so sore
It’s hard times hey poor boy
It’s hard times when you down ‘n out
I thought I would drink to wear it off
Bootlegs so high that it’s left me worse off
It’s had times hey poor boy
It’s hard times when you down ‘n out
If they catch you with whiskey in your car
You’re handicapped and there you are
It’s hard times hey poor boy
It’s hard times when you down ‘n out
They’ll take you to jail and if you can’t make bond
Content yourself there boy you’re certainly at home
It’s hard times hey poor boy
It’s hard times when you down ‘n out
I’ve got no silver, I’ve got no gold
I’m almost naked and it done turn cold
It’s hard times hey poor boy
It’s hard times when you down ‘n out
You ask that judge to treat you well
You owe $400 he’ll send you to Atlanta
It’s hard times hey poor boy
It’s hard times when you down ‘n out
NRA BLUES (1933)
I worked down in the old sweat shop
Sweet thing, Sweet thing
I worked down in the old sweat shop
Worked like a mule and never stopped
Sweet thing yes baby mine
When they gonna join the NRA
Sweet thing, Sweet thing
When they gonna join the NRA
I never have heard the big boss say
Sweet thing yes baby mine
I’ve got the blues
I’ve got them NRA blues
Lord I got them NRA blues
When payday comes and I get my check
Sweet thing, Sweet thing
When payday comes and I get my check
All I get just a little respect
Sweet thing yes baby mine
When you’re workin for the NRA
Sweet thing, Sweet thing
When you’re workin for the NRA
You’ll get short hours and get same pay
Sweet thing yes baby mine
I’ve got the blues
I’ve got them NRA blues
Lord I got them NRA blues
The rich mens all on easy street
Sweet thing, Sweet thing
The rich mens all on easy street
And the poor man can’t get enough to eat
Sweet thing yes baby mine
When they all join the NRA
Sweet thing, Sweet thing
When they all join the NRA
We’ll all feel happy and all feel gay
Sweet thing yes baby mine
I’ve got the blues
I’ve got them NRA blues
Lord I got them NRA blues
Unemployment
Stomp (1938)
I’m a law abidin citizen
My debts I sure will pay
I’m a law abiding citizen baby
My debts I sure will pay
I hope war don’t start and Uncle Sam have to send me away
I have never been in jail and I have never paid no fine
I have never been in jail baby and I have never paid no fine
I have a job to make my living cause stealin ain’t on my mind
I’ve known times when I raised my own meat and meals I have no time baby when I raised my own meat and meals My meat was in my smokehouse and my meal was in my fields When Mr. Roosevelt sent out them unemployment cards Yes when Mr. Roosevelt sent out them unemployment cards I just know sure work was going to start
Broke up my home cause I didn’t have no work to do I broke up my home cause I didn’t have no work to do My wife had to leave me cause she was starving too
We’re In The
Money (1933)
We’re in the money
We’re in the money
We’ve got a lot of what it takes to get along
We’re in the money
The skies are sunny
Old Man Depression you are through
You done us wrong
We never see a headline bout a breadline today
And when we see the landlord we can look that guy right in the eye
We’re in the money
Come on my honey
Let’s spend it, lend it, send it rolling along
Gone are my blues and gone are my fears
I’ve got good news to shout in your ears
The silver dollar has returned to the hold
With silver you cab turn your dreams to gold
We’re in the money
We’re in the money
We’ve got a lot of what it takes to get
We’re in the money
The skies are sunny
Old Many Depression you are through
You doe us wrong
We never see a headline about a breadline today
And when we see the landlord we can look that guy right in the eye
We’re in the money
Come on my honey
Let’s spend it, lend it, send it rolling along
We’re in the money
We’re in the money
We’ve got a lot of what it takes to get along
We’re in the money
The skies are sunny
Old Man Depression you are through
You done us wrong
We never see a headline bout a breadline today
And when we see the landlord we can look that guy right in the eye
We’re in the money
Come on my honey
Let’s spend it, lend it, send it rolling along
I Ain’t Got
No Home In This World Anymore
(1940)
I ain’t got no home I’m just a roamin round
Just a wanderin worker I go from town to town
And the police make it hard where ever I may go
And I ain’t got no home in this world anymore
My brothers and my sister are stranded on this road
A hot ‘n dusty road that a million feet have trod
Rich man took my home and drove me from my door
And I ain’t got no home in this world anymore
Was a farmin on the shares and always I was poor
My crops I lay into the banker’s store
My wife took down and died upon the cabin floor
And I ain’t got no home in this world anymore
Now as I look around it’s mighty plain to see
This world is such a great and funny place to be
All the gamblin man is rich and the workin man is poor
And I ain’t got no home in this world anymore
Boll Weevil Song
(1935)
Farmer said to the Boll Weevil, “I see you at my door.”
“Yes, sir,” said the Boll Weevil, “I’ve been there before.”
Gonna get your home, gonna get your home.
Farmer said to the grocer man, “I want some meat and meal.”
Get outta here you son of a gun, you got Boll Weevil in your field.
Gonna get your home, gonna get your home.
Farmer said to the banker, “I want to make a note.”
Get outta here you son of a gun, you got Boll Weevil on your coat.
Gonna get your home, gonna get your home.
Farmer said to the dry goods man, “I want to cash a check.”
Get outta here you rascal, Boll Weevil down your back.
Gonna get your home, gonna get your home.
Farmer said to the finance man, “I’d like to get a car.”
Get out of here you so-n-so got a Boll Weevil in your hair.
Gonna get your home, gonna get your home.
This Land Is Your Land (1940)
Woody Guthrie
CHORUS:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island,
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters;
This land was made for you and me.
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me the endless skyway;
I saw below me that golden valley;
This land was made for you and me.
REPEAT CHORUS
I’ve roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
While all around me a voice was sounding;
Saying this land was made for you and me.
One bright Sunday morning in the shadows of the steeple
By the Relief Office I seen my people;
As they stood hungry, I stood there whistling;
This land was made for you and me.
One bright Sunday morning in the shadows of the steeple
By the Relief Office I seen my people;
As they stood hungry, I stood there whistling;
This land was made for you and me.
The sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling.
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.
REPEAT CHORUS
Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back,
this land was made for you and me.
As I went walking, I saw a sign there,
And on the sign it said, “No Trespassing,”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.