What led harburg to write the song, "brother, can you spare a dime? " the biggest bread line in new york city, which was owned and operated by william randolph hearst the realization that the prosperity of the past was completely gone and very unlikely to return the able-bodied men he saw begging for money and standing in bread lines in the streets of new york the request president roosevelt made to harburg for a catchy and poignant campaign song?