Buddy Can You Spare A Dime Lyrics Explanation

BUDDY CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?

WHAT DO THE LYRICS MEAN?
Once I build a railroad, made it run, Made it race against time. Once I built a railroad, now it's done. Buddy, can you spare a dime?
This verse talks of the boom in the 1920’s and the fact that money was spent trying to cross America as fast as possible by train.
“… now it’s done. Buddy can you spare a dime?” This lyric refers to the fact that they are out of work and poor due to the depression

Once I built a tower
to the sun,
Brick and rivet and
line.
Once I built a tower,
now it's done.
Buddy, can you spare
a dime?
The money that was
made during the
boom was used by
wealthy businessmen
to try to outdo each
other by building
skyscrapers (Empire
State, Chrysler).
Again, with the Wall
street crash, there was
not a lot of spare money
about. So no work and
poverty.

Once in khaki suits - gee, we looked swell! Full of that Yankeedoodleedum! Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, And I was the kid with the drum! Say, don't you remember, you called me Al? It was Al all the time. Say, don't you remember? I'm your pal! Buddy, can you spare a dime?
This verse refers to America’s involvement with World War One, the enthusiasm of the American soldiers and the reality of life in the trenches.
The second half of the verse refers to the bonus marches and the fact that they were ‘overlooked’ by the government.

THERE IS A ‘LOST’ VERSE. AFTER WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT, TRY TO DECIDE WHY IT IS RARELY SUNG, OR EVEN REFERED TO.

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
In pairs write down what you think the verse refers to.
Write a short paragraph to explain whether you think this song is useful to historians studying the 1930’s.

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Buddy Can You Spare A Dime Lyrics Explanation

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