Question

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, 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?
—“Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” by Yip Harburg

Use the text to answer the question.

From whose point of view is this song written?

(1 point)

a gangster during Prohibition


a wealthy tycoon during the Roaring Twenties


an unemployed person during the Great Depression


a migrant during the Dust Bowl

Skip to navigation

Answer 1

an unemployed person during the Great Depression

The lyrics (“Brother, can you spare a dime?” and “Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?”) show the narrator was once a worker who’s now without work or income during the Depression.