HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YIP HARBURG

 E. Y. "Yip" Harburg (1896-1981), the great American lyricist, would have celebrated his 143rd birthday today.  He may be gone but his songs remain with us, and will for years to come.   His musical partners included Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, Jule Styne, Jay Gorney, Vernon Duke, Burton Lane, Ira Gershwin, Sammy Fain, and Earl Robinson.  He contributed to many Broadway Revues, including Earl Carroll's Sketchbook of 1929, Garrick Gaieties (1930), Earl Carroll's Vanities of 1930, Ziegfeld Follies of 1931, Americana (1932), Ziegfeld Follies of 1933, and Life Begins at 8:40 (1934), At Home with Ethel Waters (1953).  Among his Broadway hits were Finian's Rainbow, Jamaica, and The Happiest Girl in the World.  He composed music for the films Gold Diggers of 1937, The Wizard of Oz, At the Circus, Babes on Broadway, Ship Ahoy, Cabin in the Sky, Can't Help Singing, and Gay Purr-ee.

A Socialist, Arlen was outspoken on racial and gender policies, opposed reactionist politicians and the mistreatment of working classes, supported union politics, and was an ardent critic of religion.  He was blacklisted for 12 years, from 1950 to 1962  -- something that offended him greatly:  "As the writer of the lyric of the song 'God's Country,' I am outraged by the suggestion that somehow I am connected with, believe in, or am sympathetic with Communist or totalitarian policy."

Here are some of his greatest songs:

"Brother Can you Spare a Dime" (The Weavers):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUAVeADdz4k

"April in Paris" (Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCsNg6XB3dg

"It's Only a Paper Moon" (Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra, with Peggy Healy):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbB4Qgw6jZw

"Over the Rainbow" (Judy Garland) -- voted the Number One Recording of the Twentieth Century:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU

"We're Off to See the Wizard"  (Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Buddy Ebson [before he had to give up the role of the Tin Man], and Burt Lahr):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bVgmhj2_vU

"Lydia the Tattooed Lady"  (Groucho Marx):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4zRe_wvJw8&t=26s

"How Are Things in Glocca Morra?"  (Bing Crosby):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFjd55po0dw

"Old Devil Moon"  (Sarah Vaughan):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KULGBTPzA84

"When the Idle Poor Become the Isle Rich"  (Charlotte Rae):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skszTB0W4kQ

"Free and Equal Blues"  (Josh White):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqCaXW5faPc

"Down with Love"  (Barbra Streisand):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phv-xZbYQZc

"How Do You Do It?"  (Frank Luther with Leo Reisman and his Orchestra):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KlVMYtFS04

"Hurry Sundown"  (Peter, Paul & Mary):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_YDQ4Yyqx4

"Right as the Rain"  (Tony Bennett):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duWWMeHaqfw

"Rhymes for the Irreverent" (The Michell Trio):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dCUlS9U8Q0

And here's the History Guy talking about Yip Harburg:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF2vzftzp7k

Happy birthday to a man who is continuing to make a difference!