Edgar "Yip" Harburg
1896-1981
My students know how much I emphasize the influence of music on history...this post reflects on some of the most memorable songs of all time. I originally "studied" E. Y. Harburg because The Wizard of Oz is one of my all-time favorite movies...he wrote all of the lyrics to every song!
Edgar Yipsel Harburg was a master poet and virtuoso songwriter who dedicated his life to social justice issues...most of his songs contained political, social, anti-war, anti-racist, economic, or satirical themes. He was born to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, raised in poverty on Manhattan's Lower East Side, and when his business failed at the start of The Great Depression he started writing songs. Altogether, he wrote over 600 songs including...
Unfortunately, from WWII - 1961 he was "blacklisted" for his political views and social commentary by the House Un-American Activities Committee/ McCarthy Hearings.
"It's Only a Paper Moon" (1932) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gapCK5_rMuY
"April in Paris" (1932) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZxrvslGt5w
"Last Night When We Were Young" (1935) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rUMiCmYWao
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (1939) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU
"How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" (1947) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgo349PXe-s
"Old Devil Moon" (1947) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXWT2tiIGO0
Unfortunately, from WWII - 1961 he was "blacklisted" for his political views and social commentary by the House Un-American Activities Committee/ McCarthy Hearings.
Listen to Yip sing here...recorded in 1979
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNiXnzh3abk
"We worked for a better world in our songs...my generation unfortunately never succeeded in creating that rainbow world...but, we could hand down our songs which still hang on to hope and laughter in these times of confusion..."
- E. Y. Harburg
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