Brother, Can You Spare a Dime
Content
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UNAUTHORISED REPRODUCTION IS ILLEGAL
BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? 59
Reproduced By Permission Of Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd
Copyright 1932 WARNER BROS INC (Renewed). Rights for the extended renewal term in the U.S. controlled by GLOCCA MORRA MUSIC and
59
Property of: THE MELBOURNAIRES HARMONY CHORUS
Words by E. Y. HARBURG
Music by J AY GORNEY
Arr. by David Wright 6/29/84
Revised 2/28/95 for THE GAS HOUSE GANG
page 1 page 1
BROTHER: Modified by DM: 26/6/07
GORNEY MUSIC PUBLISHERS and administered by THE SONGWRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA. All rights reserved.
2, 3 and 4.
headers to pages
bass melody
Introduction
doom
For staging, see
_
doo_______________________
(Prior to the intro, bass may sing the first 8 bars of the verse as a solo, rubato)
slow swing tempo
ba doomba doo doo
ah___________________
ah________
doo- dle dee doom
wo
ba doom
wo
ba doo
wo
doo
wah
wah
dah___
dah___
doo- dle dee
doo_____________________________________________
doo
Verse
They used to tell me I was
__________________
build- ing a dream_________
and
so_________
And so I fol-
I_____________
lowed the mob,______________________
x
fol- lowed the mob____
When
When
x
there
there
x
was
was
x
earth
x
earth
x
to
to plow
plow
or
or
guns
guns
to
to bear__
bear____________
I was
al-
al-
ways
ways
there__
there_ right there on the
there
job______________
¸
on the job___
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13 14 15
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16 17 18 19 20
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21 22 23 24
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25 26 27 28
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BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? (cont.)
59 59
Staging: The scene is a bread/soup line during the Great Depression. It is mid-winter and everyone is wearing
has an acute sense of shame at having to queue for bread and soup. The men are mostly in groups - one stage left,
one stage right, one central (some on the first riser), one on the risers right and one on risers left. The first two
some form of coat/hat etc. and is huddled against the cold. There is very little communication between the men; each one
Property of: THE MELBOURNAIRES HARMONY CHORUS
page 2 page 2
BROTHER: Modified by DM: 26/6/07
doo______________________
They used to tell me I was build-
build- ing
ing
a
a
dream__
dream___________
build- ing a dream____
with peace
and
and glo-
glo-
ry
ry
a-
a-
head_
head_
x
x
__
__
Why
x
should
x x
,
I be
x
stand-
x
ing
x
in line____
x
freely
ah_______________
ritard
just wait- ing for bread.
bread.
,
,
_
Oh______
slowly
,
,
Chorus
Once
lead melody
I built a
a tempo
rail- road
made it run___ Made it race__ a- gainst time__
Once
bass melody
I built a rail- road now it's done___ Broth- er can you spare a dime?______
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29 30 31 32
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BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? (cont.)
59 59
groups are around 44 gal. drums in which fires are alight. Most men face inwards - some away and some towards
the audience. Steve Carnie separates from the central group and sings the first eight bars of the verse rubato. All
eyes slowly turn towards him. At the eighth bar most eyes turn to the audience. The M.D. separates from the group
and directs the Intro and leads the men in their song. Their faces and gestures show empathy with the lyrics.
Property of: THE MELBOURNAIRES HARMONY CHORUS
page 3 page 3
BROTHER: Modified by DM: 26/6/07
bass melody
Once
¸
lead melody
I built a tow- er to the sun__ brick and riv-_ et and lime_
Once
bass melody
I built a tow- er now it's done__ Broth- er can you spare a dime?______
Once
,
in kha- ki suits_ oh
lead melody
Gee we looked swell Full of that Yan-_ kee Doo-dle dee dumdoo-dle-dee dum
oo___________________
Half a mil- lion boots went
ah___________
slog- gin' thru hell__
I
lead melody
was the kid_ with the drum___
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BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? (cont.)
59 59
half-time on the spot, looking off into the distance as they remember the war years.
At "Once in khaki suits" (bar 37) all men turn towards the left side of the audience and march
On final "dime", everyone raises their outside hand in a begging gesture. Some heads are bowed.
Some are defiant. Most have a look of despair. Some are turned away from the audience.
Property of: THE MELBOURNAIRES HARMONY CHORUS
page 4 page 4
BROTHER: Modified by DM: 26/6/07
Say,
¸
don't you re- mem- ber they called me Al___ It was Al__ all the time___
Say,
bass melody
don't you re- mem- ber I'm
lead melody
your pal__ Broth-er can___ you spare a
dime,__
dime?_
__
______________
__
spare
spare
a
a
dime?
dime?
Broth- er can___
¸
bass melody
-
you spare a dime?_______ wo__
ritard
,
wo_____
//
//
Say
Coda
baritone melody
freely
don't you
-
re- mem- ber I'myour pal
_
Bud- dy, can you spare a___
-
- -
dime?
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