E. Y. Harburg

E. Y. Harburg – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Delve into the life and legacy of E. Y. “Yip” Harburg (1896–1981), the American lyricist behind Over the Rainbow, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, and a host of socially conscious songs that changed musical theatre and film forever.

Introduction

E. Y. Harburg—often going by “Yip” Harburg—was a prolific American lyricist, librettist, poet, and social commentator whose career spanned more than half a century. He is best known for writing lyrics for The Wizard of Oz (1939), including the iconic “Over the Rainbow,” and for crafting the Depression-era anthem “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

While his work achieved enormous popular success, Harburg’s artistry was deeply intertwined with his political convictions. He infused many of his songs with critiques of inequality, social injustice, and intolerance. Over his career, he became known as “Broadway’s social conscience.”

Early Life and Family

Harburg was born Isidore Hochberg on April 8, 1896, in New York City.

His childhood included small jobs such as working in a pickle factory, selling newspapers, and helping to light street lamps—activities that acquainted him early on with everyday labor and struggle.

In school, Harburg attended Townsend Harris High School, where he became friends with Ira Gershwin, a peer who would later become a prominent lyricist. City College of New York, further deepening his literary and musical interests.

From Business Failure to Full-Time Songwriting

Early in his career, Harburg ventured outside the arts. He co-owned an electrical appliance company, but the business collapsed during the stock market crash of 1929, leaving him in significant debt.

This setback proved to be a turning point: he decided to devote himself fully to songwriting. Encouraged by his friend Ira Gershwin, Harburg entered the world of lyric writing for Broadway revues.

One of Harburg’s earliest and most enduring successes came in 1932 with the song “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”, written with composer Jay Gorney. The song—reflecting the hardship of the Great Depression—resonated deeply with the public and remains a visceral musical document of that era.

Career Highlights & Major Works

Broadway, Hollywood & Iconic Songs

Harburg’s lyricism found fertile ground in both Broadway and Hollywood. From the mid-1930s onward, he collaborated with composers such as Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Jerome Kern, and Burton Lane.

One of his crowning achievements was writing all the songs for the film The Wizard of Oz (1939), in partnership with Harold Arlen. This includes “Over the Rainbow,” arguably the most famous American song of the 20th century.

Other prominent songs by Harburg include “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “April in Paris,” “Old Devil Moon,” “Down With Love,” and “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”

On Broadway, Harburg contributed lyrics and librettos to musicals such as Finian’s Rainbow (1947). This show combined fantasy, satire, and social critique, and is often regarded as a landmark in socially conscious musical theatre.

Political Beliefs, Blacklisting, & Social Conscience

Harburg was politically active and outspoken in his support for civil liberties, racial equality, labor rights, and social justice.

During the McCarthy era, Harburg was blacklisted in Hollywood for his political associations and refusal to cooperate with anti-communist investigations. From about 1950 to 1962, he was barred from film work and had restrictions on his travel. Jamaica and other shows.

Harburg’s commitment to freedom extended to his skepticism of organized religion; he wrote a poem titled “Atheist” as a critique of religious dogma.

Legacy and Influence

E. Y. Harburg’s influence spans multiple domains:

• Canonical songs: His lyrics—especially “Over the Rainbow” and “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”—have become part of the American cultural fabric, covered, rearranged, and cited across decades.

• Socially relevant art: He helped demonstrate that popular musical forms could carry serious social commentary without sacrificing musical appeal.

• Inspiration for lyricists: Harburg’s mastery of rhyme, wordplay, emotional directness, and moral clarity is studied by songwriters and theatre artists to this day.

• Recognition and honors: In 1940, Harburg and Harold Arlen won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Over the Rainbow.” Songwriters Hall of Fame (1972).

Though he passed away in 1981, Harburg’s works continue to be revived in theatre, studied in musical history, and loved by audiences worldwide.

Famous Quotes of E. Y. Harburg

• “Songs are the pulse of a nation's heart, a fever chart of its health.”

• “We demand equality, not from above, but from below.” (Reflecting his egalitarian ethos)

• “The rainbow of every ending is the promise of every beginning.” (Inspired by Over the Rainbow)

• “Any man who lives in our world and hears the suffering, the wrong, the incomplete, and gives no shape to them trembles with fear, with guilt, or with dumb despair.”

• “That’s a fine kind of ideal—when you can see it and you can’t reach it—yet you must try anyway.”

(Note: Some of these latter quotes are less formally documented, but reflect sentiments consistent with Harburg’s poetic and political voice.)

Lessons from E. Y. Harburg

• Blend beauty and conviction. Harburg shows us that art need not avoid politics; it can speak truth through melody and metaphor.

• Speak to people’s hearts. His most celebrated songs are simple emotionally yet rich in nuance.

• Resilience matters. Despite blacklisting and economic hardship, he continued creating meaningful work.

• Moral art resonates. Works rooted in empathy, justice, and humanity tend to outlive trends.

• Use your voice with integrity. Harburg’s commitment to freedom, equality, and critique underscores that public artists bear a responsibility beyond mere entertainment.

Conclusion

E. Y. “Yip” Harburg was more than a popular lyricist—he was a moral and poetic force in American culture. He wove social conscience into melodies that endure and turned optimism, satire, empathy, and protest into the same songs people would sing for decades. His life reminds us that art and conscience need not be separate, and that a single line—even a line about a rainbow—can help carry the weight of human longing toward justice.