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, Ah 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;

Hey 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?”