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For those who never saw the Burma
shave signs, here is a quick lesson
in US automotive history of the 1930s and '40's. Before the Interstates,
when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be
posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields. They were small
red signs about 4'wide x 1'high, with white letters. Five signs, about
100 feet apart, each containing 1 line of a 4 line couplet and the
obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.
Here are some of the actual signs which old geezers like me now recall.
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TRAINS DON'T WANDER
ALL OVER THE MAP
'CAUSE NOBODY
SITS
ON THE ENGINEER'S
LAP
Burma Shave
SHE KISSED THE HAIRBRUSH
BY MISTAKE
SHE THOUGHT IT
WAS
HER HUSBAND JAKE
Use Burma Shave
DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD,
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
Burma Shave
DROVE TOO LONG
DRIVER SNOOZING
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
IS NOT AMUSING
Burma Shave
BROTHER SPEEDER
LET'S REHEARSE
ALL TOGETHER
GOOD MORNING NURSE
Burma Shave
SPEED WAS HIGH
WEATHER WAS NOT
TIRES WERE THIN
X MARKS THE SPOT
Burma Shave
THE MIDNIGHT RIDE
OF PAUL FOR BEER
LED TO A WARMER
HEMISPHERE
Burma Shave
AROUND THE CURVE
LICKETY-SPLIT
ITS A BEAUTIFUL CAR
WASN'T IT?
Burma Shave
NO MATTER THE PRICE
NO MATTER HOW NEW
THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE
IN THE CAR IS YOU
Burma Shave
A GUY WHO DRIVES
A CAR WIDE OPEN
ISN'T THINKIN'
HE'S JUST HOPIN'
Burma Shave
AT INTERSECTIONS
LOOK EACH WAY
A HARP SOUNDS NICE
BUT ITS HARD TO PLAY
Burma Shave
BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL
EYES ON THE ROAD
THAT'S THE SKILLFUL
DRIVER'S CODE
Burma Shave
THE ONE WHO DRIVES
WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING
DEPENDS ON THE CAR
TO DO HIS THINKING
Burma Shave
CAR IN DITCH
DRIVER IN TREE
THE MOON WAS FULL
AND SO WAS HE.
Burma Shave
PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
TAKE IT SLOW
LET OUR LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW
Burma Shave
DEADLY THOUGHTS
ABOUT LIGHTS THAT
SHINE
IF HE WON'T DIM
HIS
I WON'T DIM MINE
Burma Shave
DON'T STICK YOUR ARM
OUT THE WINDOW
TOO FAR
IT MIGHT GO HOME
IN ANOTHER CAR
Burma Shave
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Do these bring back a memory?
If not, a kid you've gotta be
If they do, then just like me,
You're as old as that tall redwood tree.
Have a great day! Stay young at heart!
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