I had not even heard of Yip Harburg
... but have seen the movie "Over the Rainbow" (several times !)
Have you wondered about the political background of the characters or lyrics ?
Yarburg was a 1940's black-listed socialist whose lyrics are in everyday language .
" Come out, Come out wherever you are ?" (gay rights)
" Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead." (capitalism)
" We gotta be free " (slavery)
" Happiness is a thing called Joe" (miscegenation)
" ...we're not in Kansas anymore." (too many to list)
The video is almost 1 hr long, but jumping to the 20-min mark gives the flavor
... then go back and watch it all for the history of a remarkably talented man.
Democracy Now
Amy Goodman
11/22/12
A Tribute to Blacklisted Lyricist Yip Harburg:
The Man Who Put the Rainbow in The Wizard of Oz
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