A Tribute to Yip Harburg: The Man Who Put the Rainbow in The Wizard of Oz & "Buddy Can you Spare Me

[KoKo]

a Dime."

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Monday, November 16, 2009
A Tribute to Yip Harburg: The Man Who Put the Rainbow in The Wizard of Oz

His name might not be familiar to many, but his songs are sung by millions around the world. Today, a journey through the life and work of Yip Harburg, the Broadway lyricist who wrote such hits as “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” and who put the music into The Wizard of Oz. Born into poverty on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Yip always included a strong social and political component to his work, fighting racism and poverty. A lifelong socialist, Yip was blacklisted and hounded throughout much of his life.

Taking us on today’s trip through the music and politics of Yip is his son, Ernie Harburg. First, we’re going to go through Yip’s early life, his collaboration with the Gershwin’s, through “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” Then we’re going to take an in-depth look at The Wizard of Oz. And finally, we’ll hear a medley of Yip Harburg’s Broadway songs and the politics of the times in which they were created.

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/16/a_tribute_to_yip_harburg_the

[valerief]

1. Thanks!!!!

:applause:

[grasswire]

2. lovely!!

And a salute from me to Tin Pan Alley, the product of which has sweetened my days all my life.

[tonysam]

3. Al Jolson recorded a great version of "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

link

There are some great pictures accompanying the song at the link.

[sweetloukillbot]

4. Scottish folk singer Dick Gaughan wrote an amazing tribute to Harburg.

"Outlaws and Dreamers" - the song makes me tremble every time I hear it.

http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/outlaws.html

He introduces it in concert with a quote from Harburg - if I remember correctly Gaughan claimed it was spoken before McCarthy and the HUAC, but that may be apocryphal. Still an amazing quote:

"I am one of the last of a small tribe of troubadours who still believe that life is a beautiful and exciting journey with a purpose and grace which are well worth singing about."