Who recorded brother can you spare a dime

He set the tune mostly in a minor key, one that suggests a sense of sadness and loss. A young man approached Gorney, his collar turned up and his hat pulled low. Popular crooners Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee both recorded versions of it and the song blew the top off the music charts.

For the first time since the Great Depression began, it seemed, someone had put words and music to what many Americans were feeling—fear, grief, even anger. The song itself, though, angered some rich and powerful Americans. Pro-business leaders believed the tune was a dangerous attack on the American economic system.

They tried to ban it from Broadway and block it from being played on the radio. Music, movies, family, and government aid helped people get through this dark period.

The Great Depression, though, dragged on for more than ten years. Every song has a story about why it was written. Songs from the past are like recordings from long ago. They give us a sense of what our parents, grandparents, and extra-old ancestors feared, hoped for, and celebrated. Discover the multicultural heritage and history of America through explorations of immigrant life, the lives of legendary pioneers like Lewis and Clark, the modern political system, and significant works of American music, including our National Anthem.

Travel the historic silk road, explore European castles, and discover the long-lasting influence of ancient cultures on modern society in this journey through the past and around the globe.

Photographer Dorothea Lange, whose picture Migrant Mother is one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century. See how Lange used her camera to tell the story of Depression-era Americans. The image evoked national sympathy, rather than scorn, for the hungry and homeless. Eric Friedman Director, Digital Learning. Tiffany A. Bryant Assistant Manager, Audience Enrichment. Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U. Department of Education. Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by A.

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Your tax-deductible gift will help keep our vital arts and education initiatives accessible to more communities across the nation! To join or renew as a Member, please visit our Membership page. To make a donation in memory of someone, please visit our Memorial Donation page. Once I built a railroad, I made it run, Made it race against time.

Brother, can you spare a dime? Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time. 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, And I was the kid with the drum! Buddy, can you spare a dime? Songwriters: lyrics by Y. This work may also be view through YouTube. Comments for this site have been disabled. Please use our contact form for any research questions.