they used to tell me I was building a dream...
E. Y. (Yip) Harburg, often known as "Broadway's social conscience," was born on April 8, 1896 of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, raised in poverty on Manhattan's Lower East Side, and later attended City College of New York where he struck up a lifelong friendship with his classmate, Ira Gershwin.
Yip was a master lyricist, poet and bookwriter who was dedicated to social justice. Credit him with
"Brother Can You Spare A Dime",
"It's Only a Paper Moon"
not to mention "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
and other songs from the Wizard Of Oz.
This episode of Democracy Now features an interview with Yip's son, Ernie
- an amazing exploration into the creative process and the politics behind "The Wizard Of Oz".
http://i2.democracynow.org/2008/12/25/stream
E. Y. (Yip) Harburg 4. 8. 1896 - 3.4.1981
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