Known as "Broadway's social conscience," E. Y. Harburg (1896–1981) wrote the lyrics to the standards, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?," "April in Paris," and "It's Only a Paper Moon," as well as all of the songs in The Wizard of Oz, including "Over the Rainbow." Harburg always included a strong social and political component to his work, fighting racism, poverty, and war. Interweaving close to fifty interviews (most of them previously unpublished), over forty lyrics, and a number of Harburg's poems, Harriet Hyman Alonso enables Harburg to talk about his life and work. He tells of his early childhood on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, his public school education, how the Great Depression opened the way to writing lyrics, and his work on Broadway and Hollywood, including his blacklisting during the McCarthy era. Finally, but most importantly, Harburg shares his commitment to human rights and the ways it affected his writing and his career path. Includes an appendix with Harburg's key musicals, songs, and films.

List of Illustrations
Preface
A Note to the Reader
What's in a Name?
Early Years
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
A Pause for Jay Gorney
Yip's Path to Show Business Success
A Pause for Vernon Duke
From Hollywood to Oz and Back
A Pause for Harold Arlen
Human Rights Activism Takes Center Stage
A Pause for Agnes de Mille
Yip's Case Study of Finian's Rainbow
A Pause for Burton Lane
Anger, Frustration, and Persistence During the McCarthy Years
A Pause for Friendship During Hard Times
The New Old Yip
Acknowledgements
Appendix: Musicals, Films, and Songs
Notes
Bibliography
Lyric Credits
Index