 edgar yipsel "yip" harburg (born isidore hochberg, ; april 8, 1896 â march 5, 1981) was an american popular song lyricist who worked with many well-known composers. he 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." he was known for the social commentary of his lyrics, as well as his liberal sensibilities. he also championed racial and gender equality and union politics. ==early life and career== harburg, the youngest of four surviving children (out of ten), was born isidore hochberg on the lower east side of new york city on april 8, 1896.yip harburg: biography from answers.com. retrieved january 2, 2010. his parents, lewis hochberg and mary ricing,e. y. harburg. retrieved from notable names database on january 12, 2010. were yiddish-speaking orthodox jewssongwriters hall of fame - e.y. harburg biography. retrieved january 2, 2010. who had emigrated from russia.yip harburg biography. retrieved january 2, 2010. isidore later adopted the name edgar harburg, and came to be best known as edgar "yip" harburg. he attended townsend harris high school, where he and ira gershwin, who met over a shared fondness for gilbert and sullivan, worked on the school paper and became lifelong friends. according to his son ernie harburg, gilbert, and irish dramatist george bernard shaw taught his father, a "democratic socialist, [and] sworn challenger of all tyranny against the people, that 'humor is an act of courage' and dissent".robert mackey "bbc wonât ban âding dong! the witch is dead,â adopted as anti-thatcher anthem", "
1896_births 1981_deaths American_musical_theatre_lyricists American_socialists Best_Song_Academy_Award_winning_songwriters City_College_of_New_York_alumni Deaths_from_myocardial_infarction Hollywood_blacklist Jewish_American_songwriters Jewish_American_writers People_from_Manhattan Road_accident_deaths_in_California Songwriters_Hall_of_Fame_inductees Townsend_Harris_High_School_alumni