Brother Can You Spare A Dime Trivia Quiz

Answer: Railroad

"Brother Can You Spare A Dime" was written by Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney. It concerns the problems of World War I veterans during the Great Depression. This section is concerned with the growth of railroads in the late 19th and early 20th century, and those who helped create them, folks who ended up fighting in World War I.

Answer: Tower

The song appeared in the 1932 musical "Americana." It alludes to the early 20th century development of cities and those who helped create the tall buildings, more individuals who ended up in World War I.

Answer: Rivet

This refers to the materials used by workers to create the buildings that made up the cities in the early 20th century. In 1932 the song was recorded by Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallee, and Al Jolson.

Answer: Tower

The song deals with a World War I veteran, caught in the Great Depression. He enumerates the major contributions of his generation to the development of America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Answer: Khaki

The song details many of the great accomplishments of the generation who were part of the American Expeditionary Force that went to Europe under the command of General John "Black Jack" Pershing, and underlines the "pride" those soldiers felt.

Answer: Hell

These words express the painful suffering of the American troops in Europe, a real contrast to how "swell" they looked in their new uniforms. The Great Depression began on October 28, 1929 when the stock market collapsed. [It would hang on until World War II.]

Answer: Drum

This is another comment on the contributions made by those who served in World War I. By 1932, when the song was written, unemployment in the US had risen to between 12 and 15 million workers, or 25-30 percent of the work force.

Answer: Al

"Al" is the generic World War I veteran out of work in the Great Depression. The song also reflects the "Bonus March" of 1932 when 43,000 persons (mostly World War I vets and their families) gathered in Washington D.C. to demand that the government redeem for cash their service certificates (a bonus to be paid them in 1945).

Answer: Pal

These words reflect the way World war I veterans felt forgotten and ignored by the nation they served. On July 28, 1932, President Herbert Hoover had the US army clear the campsite of the Bonus Army. General Douglas MacArthur directed the infantry and cavalry (plus six tanks) that drove the protestors (men, women, and children) out and that destroyed the shelters and belongings.

Answer: Dime

A dime was welcome amount in 1932. More recently, the song was recorded by The Youngbloods in 1967, Spanky And our Gang in 1967, and Tom Jones in 1970.