Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

We all know the moon's made of green cheese, but what's the deal with the pie in the sky? The idiom pie in the sky, referring to something that's pleasant to imagine but unattainable, comes from an early 20th century song called "The Preacher and the Slave," penned and popularized by labor organizer Joe Hill. The song parodied the hymn "The Sweet By and By," which promised a heavenly reward after death. Hill's song sarcastically made the point there's need for help here on Earth, too. This is part of a complete episode.

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