This song has been an earworm for me over the last month or so, on and off, so instead of my usual practice of posting a war poem for Armistice Day, here are the words of the great Yip Harburg:
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 jobThey 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-Doodly-dum
Half a million boots went sloggin’ through Hell
And I was the kid with the drumSay, 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?
Tolerabimus quod tolerare debemus,
-Vardibidian.