BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME - Commack Schools



BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?

When Bing Crosby recorded this song in October, 1932, one out of every four Americans who wanted work could not find work. The banking system was near collapse. Record sales had plummeted because Americans did not have the money for such luxuries. No song captures the dark spirit of the Great Depression more than "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" Both Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee each recorded the song during Herbert Hoover’s presidency, shortly before President Roosevelt's election. Both versions went to No. 1 in the charts.

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?

Once in khaki suits

Gee we looked swell

Full of that yankee doodle dee dum.

Half a million boots went sloggin' through hell

And I was 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.

Say buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits,

Ah, gee we looked swell

Full of that yankee doodle dee dum!

Half a million boots went sloggin' through hell

And I was the kid with the drum!

Oh, 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?

“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

Homework –

1. In the first line of the song, whom do you think “they” refers to?

2. What was the “dream” that this person was building?

“ ____________ dream” we learned about this during the immigration unit.

3. Look at the following lines from the song and determine what were the different occupations the song is referring to:

“When there was earth to plow …” __________________

“Or guns to bear…” hint – think last chapter ___________________

“Once I built a railroad…” hint – beginning of the school year ___________________

“Once I built a tower up to the sun...” hint think vocab word (what’s he building? _________________

4. Why do you think this song appealed to so many Americans (that it actually went to number # 1 twice during the Depression?)

5. How does the tone of the person change from the beginning paragraph to the last few lines?

6. What type of source is this song? (primary or secondary source)

7. During the Depression, did these people suffer because of something they did, or because of something beyond their control? Explain

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