Rhymes for the Irreverent

Yip Harburg, the great American lyricist who wrote "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow," "It's Only a Paper Moon," April in Paris," "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," and Finian's Rainbow, delights us with his poetic genius in this collection of humorous, iconoclastic, and exhilaratingly human verses. Harburg wrote the lyrics and much of the screenplay for The Wizard of Oz. Although greatly admired for his talent, he was blacklisted for his progressive views. The book includes 150+ poems of light verse illustrated with 47 cartoons by celebrated artist Seymour Chwast. Bonus sections include biographical articles about Harburg's life, collaboration with Harold Arlen, Jay Gorney, Burton Lane, Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke, and a "Yip in his own words" article about the craft of writing lyrics and light verse. Preface by son Ernie Harburg.