The automobile industry came to maturity in the 1920s. The availability of cheap vehicles, e.g. Fords (aka “Flivvers” or “Tin Lizzies”) cost $300 in the mid-1920s, had a major cultural and economic impact on the society. The impact of the automobile culture is a topic that could encompass its own book. And, there are probably more songs about cars and related things than any other topic. Suffice it to say, the changes brought about by the car were dramatic and swift. The car redefined nearly every aspect of American life.
“Car Song”- written and sung by Woody Guthrie. This song was probably not written in the 1920s, but it does get the mood across. https://youtu.be/DUDtFdnn9oQ
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrmTake me riding in the car, car
Take me riding in the car, car
Take you riding in the car, car
I’ll take you riding in my carBrrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrmClick clack, open up the door, girls
Click clack, open up the door, boys
Front door, back door, clickety clack
Take you riding in my carBrrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrmClimb, climb, rattle on the front seat
Spree I spraddle on the backseat
Turn my key, step on my starter
Take you riding in my carEngine it goes brm brm brrrm
Engine it goes brm brm brrrm
Front seat, backseat, boys and girls
Take you riding in my carTrees and the houses walk along
Trees and the houses walk along
Truck and a car and a garbage can
I’ll take you riding in my carBrrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrmShips and the little boats chug along
Ships and the little boats chug along
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm
Take you riding in my carI’m a gonna zoom you home again
I’m a gonna zoom you home again
Brrrm brm brm brm brm rolling home
Take you riding in my carI’m a gonna let you blow the horn
I’m a gonna let you blow the horn
A oorah, a oorah, a oogah, oogah
I’ll take you riding in my carBrrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrmBrrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b’ brrrm
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm
In 1919, there were 6.7 million cars on the road and by 1929 the number exceeded 23.1 million. The presence of cars on the road resulted in satellite businesses, such as garages and filling stations, restaurants on the road, and campgrounds and tourism related services. The first motel (motorist hotel) opened in San Luis Obispo, California in 1925. Moreover, automobiles stimulated the growth of steel, glass, and rubber industries. (Moore, pp 147-151)
Necessarily, during the 1920s, the country doubled its system of roads and highways. The nation spent over $2 billion annually building and maintaining roads. By 1929, there were 852,000 miles of roads in the United States, compared to just 369,000 miles in 1920, including the legendary Route 66 that permitted motorists to travel from coast to coast.
Not only did the dramatic increase in cars transform America physically, it had a great impact on the country culturally and psychologically. For example, the availability of cars increased the freedom and, thus, the wild and free behavior of youth. People could travel farther to work, school or socializing. Trips of 100 miles became routine and with them a formerly rural, agricultural society became much more urban and industrialized.
What follows are some songs, many contemporaneous with the times, that reflect the automobile culture of the early 1900s through the 1920s.
“In My Merry Oldsmobile”, sung Billy Murray, Music by Gus Edwards, Lyrics by Vincent P. Bryan, The biggest hit song of 1905! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFruHQJeaRg
Verse 1: Young Johnnie Steele has an Oldsmobile. He loves a dear little girl.
She is the queen of his gas machine. She has his heart in a whirl.
Now when they go for a spin, you know, she tries to learn his auto, so
He lets her steer while he gets her ear, and whispers soft and low;Chorus: Come away with me Lucile in my merry Oldsmobile
Down the road of life we’ll fly automo-bubbling you and I.
To the church we’ll swiftly steal, then our wedding bells will peal,
You can go as far you like with me, In my merry Oldsmobile.Verse 2: They love to spark in the dark old park, as they go flying along,
She says she knows why his motor goes; his sparker’s awfully strong.
Each day they spoon to the engine’s tune, their honeymoon will happen soon,
He’ll win Lucile with his Oldsmobile and then he’ll fondly croon;Chorus (2x): Come away with me Lucile in my merry Oldsmobile
Down the road of life we’ll fly automo-bubbling you and I.
To the church we’ll swiftly steal, then our wedding bells will peal,
You can go as far you like with me, In my merry Oldsmobile.Patter Chorus: Come away Lucile ’cause if I may Lucile I want to take you for my bride,
And we’ll chug along and always sing a song as down the road of life we fly
Even though my car is old and squeaky now it’s better than a horse or train.
When I pull the throttle out and put her into third you think you’re in a plane.
To the church we’re heading for a quiet wedding then I’ll crank her up and take the wheel
And away we’ll go my honey, they will know my honey that our love is real.
You can go as far you like with me, In my merry Oldsmobile,
My merry Oldsmobile.
“He’d Have to Get Under, Get Out and Get Under” – Billy Murray – 1913 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQsdEkQCZSs
Johnny O’Connor bought an automobile,
He took his sweetheart for a ride one Sunday.
Johnny was togged up in his best Sunday clothes,
She nestled close to his side.
Things were just dandy till he got down the road,
Then something happened to the old machin’ry.
That engine got his goat,
Off went his hat and coat,
Ev’rything needed repairs.He’d have to get under,
Get out and get under
To fix up his little machine.
He was just dying to cuddle his queen,
But ev’ry minute
When he’d begin it,
He’d have to get under,
Get out and get under,
Then he’d get back at the wheel.
A dozen times they’d start to hug and kiss
And then the darned old engine it would miss,
And then he’d have to get under,
Get out and get under,
And fix up his automobile.Millionaire Wilson said to Johnny one day,
“Your little sweetheart don’t appreciate you,
I have a daughter who is hungry for love,
She likes to ride, by the way”.
Johnny had visions of a million in gold,
He took her riding in his little auto,
But ev’ry time that he went to say “Marry me”,
‘Twas the old story again.He’d have to get under,
Get out and get under
To fix up his little machine.
He was just dying to cuddle his queen,
But ev’ry minute
When he’d begin it,
He’d have to get under,
Get out and get under,
Then he’d get back at the wheel.
A dozen times they’d start to hug and kiss
And then the darned old engine it would miss,
And then he’d have to get under,
Get out and get under,
And fix up his automobile.ALTERNATIVE CHORUS VERSES
A dozen times of love he’d try to speak,
And then the radiator it would leak,
And then he’d have to get under,
Get out and get under,
And fix up his automobile.To kiss and squeeze he’d boldly get to work,
And then the brakes would slip there’d be a jerk,
And then he’d have to get under,
Get out and get under,
And fix up his automobile.He’d start to tell the tale with lots of swank,
And then he’d find no petrol in the tank
And then he’d have to get under,
Get out and get under,And fix up his automobile.
“Henry’s Made a Lady Out of Lizzie”, by Walter O’Keefe and Robert Dolan. The reference to “Henry” is, of course, Henry Ford and the “Lizzie” is the “Tin Lizzie” or the Model T. The basis of the song is the fact that in 1927, Ford Motor Company introduced the Model A, an entirely different, much more stylish vehicle that could be obtained in colors other than black. https://youtu.be/UOw-qEIH-7M
Have you seen her, Ain’t she great?
She’s something you’ll appreciate,
I’m sure you understand just what I mean,
Ev’ry body, Everywhere, is falling for her now,
I’m talking bout the new Ford and boy it’s sure a wow!
When you see her, You’ll agree,
She’s just the one for you and me,
She’s everything that anyone could ask,
“Sit tin’ pretty yes I am, With her I’m always found
You “ought ta” see her Chassis, it’s sure the best a round.Talk of this and talk of that,
Boys you must take off your hat,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
Has she plenty, has she much?
Got the “tin” you love to touch,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
They used to park her in a lot,
For that they charged two bits,
But now they charge you nothing,
And you park her at the Ritz.
She once had rattles in her wheel,
But now she’s full of “sex appeal”
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!She’s like all the other vamps,
Pretty shape and lovely lamps,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
Since she’s taken on some weight,
Honest, folks, she’s looking great,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
Her dashboard has a clock,
That’s a hit with all the Scotch,
A Scotchman saw the clock,
And promptly stopped his watch.
You’ve all heard the Frenchman song,
Fifty million can’t be wrong,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
Just a girl who knows her stuff,
Plenty fast but never rough,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
Always tidy, always clean,
Faithful as an old Marine,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
She’s not the kind who tries to get
Your money all at once,
She only wants ten dollars down,
The rest in fourteen months,
Good for sister, nice for ma,
Ev’rybody rides but Pa,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!Ev’ry groom and blushing bride,
Now enjoy their buggy ride,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
No one curses, no one swears,
Lizzie never needs repairs,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
She used to kick and jump around,
On ev’ry trolley track,
But now she’s very ladylike,
And never answers back.
She will surely catch your eye,
You know salesmen never lie,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!No more chug chug chug chug -bang!
No more cuss words, no more slang,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
Not the noisy flapper kind,
Simply quiet and refined,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
They used to say “We own a car,
It looks like one I mean”
But now they say, “I’ll have you know,
We own a Ford machine”‘
No more playing Jack and Jill,
No more tumbling down the hill,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!When she’s coming down the street,
All the boys say “Ain’t she sweet”?
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
Every man will go for her,
She’s the kind that men prefer,
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
Why even Thomas Edison,
The wizard that he is,
Could not resist her charms,
And was the first to take out “Liz”
He said “She’s Okay to me,
All she needs is company”
HENRY’S MADE A LADY OUT OF LIZZIE!
“Up and Down the 8 Mile Road”, words by Gus Kahn, Music by Walter Donaldson, performed by the Fleetwood Orchestra, Irving Kaufman singing (1926). Reflected in this song are new attitudes of adolescents toward ideas of socialization and how owning a car can help them in courting a girl. The lyrics make much of the privacy a car can bring a courting couple. https://youtu.be/u4R7vILe-DM
(Long instrumental introduction to about 1:35 of the piece)
You got a car and you want a ride so you take a ride with a girl by your side, up and down the 8-mile road
And if you want a kiss, then you’ll get a kiss from your little miss as you go down the 8-mile road
And if you only practice nightly with one arm you can learn to hold her tightly
You got a heart and you want a thrill, she’s got a heart and you’ll get a thrill, up and down the 8-mile road
“(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”– sung by Nat King Cole, songwriter Bob Troup. This is one of the all time classics of the Great American Songbook. There were no superhighways in the 1920s, but the closest thing was Route 66, which became one of the most famous roads in the United States. Route 66, also known as “the Will Rogers Highway”, “the Main Street of America” or “the Mother Road”, was one of the original highways within the U.S. Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The highway originally ran from Chicago, Illinois,through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km). https://youtu.be/MF_uuHvOz8w
If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway that is best.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.It winds from Chicago to LA,
More than two thousand miles all the way.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.Now you go through Saint Looey
Joplin, Missouri,
And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty.
You see Amarillo,
Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona.
Don’t forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino.Won’t you get hip to this timely tip:
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.Won’t you get hip to this timely tip,
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six. (3x)