phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

"Write if you find work"

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on July 29, 2003

In Reply to: "Write if you find work" posted by Bob on July 29, 2003

: : I think it is a line form Strinbook's book,
: : the Grapes of Wrath. Mama Joad tells her son,
: : "Write when you find work." when he leaves. The
: : line got picked up, from what my friends tell me,
: : by Bob and Ray, the 1940's comedy duo. They ended
: : their radio program each week by saying,
: : "Write when you find work and hang by your thumbs." I first learned the phrase from my brother Ralph. He would often say good-bye by telling people, "Write when you find work."
: : I think the original phrase used the word "When"
: : instead of the word, "If" because when you are
: : in desperate straits, you have to assume that they
: : will find work.

: : Thanks,

: : Rod Reinhart

: Yes, Bob & Ray. I was puzzling over this question, and couldn't put my finger on it. Odd, since I'm a Bob & Ray fan, and have been using this phrase all my life. (I yell it to my golf ball when I hit that enormous banana slice....)

Not to be nitpicky, but Bob & Ray's tag line was "Write if you get work" (not "find")

...Good Day?

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