Burma Shave
Before various governmental agencies started their safe-driving programs, the Burma Shave Company had a very effective safe-driving program that did not cost the taxpayers a penny!
For those of you who never saw the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930s and 1940s. 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 with white letters. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing one line of a four line couplet ... and the obligatory fifth sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.
| BROTHER SPEEDER, |
| LET'S REHEARSE; |
| ALL TOGETHER, |
| GOOD MORNING NURSE |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD |
| TO GAIN A MINUTE |
| YOU NEED YOUR HEAD |
| YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| CATTLE CROSSING |
| MEANS GO SLOW |
| THAT OLD BULL IS |
| SOME COW'S BEAU |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| DROVE TOO LONG, |
| DRIVER SNOOZING |
| WHAT HAPPENED NEXT |
| IS NOT AMUSING |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| A MAN A MISS |
| A CAR A CURVE |
| HE KISSED THE MISS |
| AND MISSED THE CURVE |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| AROUND THE CURVE |
| LICKETY-SPLIT |
| IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEW CAR |
| WASN'T IT? |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| SPEED WAS HIGH |
| WEATHER WAS NOT |
| TIRES WERE THIN |
| X MARKS THE SPOT |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| IT'S BETTER TO BURP |
| AND BEAR THE SHAME |
| THAN NOT TO BURP |
| AND BEAR THE PAIN |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| THE MIDNIGHT RIDE |
| OF PAUL FOR BEER |
| LED HIM TO |
| A WARMER HEMISPHERE |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| AT INTERSECTIONS |
| LOOK EACH WAY |
| A HARP SOUNDS NICE |
| BUT ITS HARD TO PLAY |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| A GUY WHO DRIVES |
| A CAR WIDE OPEN |
| IS NOT THINKIN' |
| HE'S JUST HOPIN' |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| CAR IN DITCH |
| DRIVER IN TREE |
| THE MOON WAS FULL |
| AND SO WAS HE |
| *** Burma Shave *** |
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| PASSING SCHOOL ZONE |
| TAKE IT SLOW |
| LET OUR LITTLE |
| SHAVERS GROW |
| *** Burma Shave *** |