They used to tell me I was building a dream And so I followed the mob When there was earth to plough 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 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 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 doodle-dee dum Half a million boots went sloggin' through hell And I was the kid with the gun Say you don't remember, they called me Al It was Al all the time Say you don't remember, I'm your pal Buddy can you spare a dime