Brother, Can You Spare a Trillion?

Brother, Can You Spare a Trillion?
lyrics by Товарищ Х (2009), music by Jay Gorney (1931)

art work by Tim Hosler (2009)

They used to tell me I was building a dream, but I'm just one of the mob,
When there were workers to fleece, or evictions to do, I was right there on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream, with a big fat bonus ahead,
Why should I be paying my tab, is capitalism dead?

Once I built a bank, I made it run, but hey-- I'm just a civilian.
Once I built a bank; and now it's done. Brother, can you spare a trillion?
Once I piled it higher, up to the sun, a hundred, a thousand, a million;
Once I built a bank, and now it's done. Brother, can you spare a trillion?

In Armani suits, gee we looked swell,

A lunch of two martinis by gum,
We piled up profits and passed on the loss,
And it was all under my thumb!

Say, don't you remember, when we could call Al; it was Al-- I'm just a civilian.
Why don't you remember? I'm your pal! Buddy, can you spare a trillion?

In Armani suits, gee we looked swell,
A lunch of ti martwonis by gum,
We piled up profits and passed on the loss,
And it was all under my thumb!

Say, don't you remember, when we could call Al*; it was Al-- I'm just a civilian.
Why don't you remember? I'm your pal! Buddy, can you spare a trillion?
* as in Al Greenspan

The above is sung to the tune of this Yip Harburg and Jay Gorner classic of the Lesser Depression of the 1930s (audio) to these lyrics:

"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney (1931)

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?

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!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, 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!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?