The Okie Legacy: Remembering Burma Shave Signs

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Volume 6 , Issue 38

2004

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Remembering Burma Shave Signs

"Burma Shave -- For those who never saw the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930s and '40s. 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 1 line of a 4 line couplet and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.

Burma Shave Signs - Here are more of the actual signs:

  • Trains don't wander -
    all over the map -
    'cause nobody sits -
    in the engineer's lap.

  • She kissed the hairbrush - by mistake - she thought it was - her husband Jake.

  • Don't lose your head - to gain a minute - you need your head - your brains are in it.

  • Drove too long -
    driver snoozing -
    what happened next -
    is not amusing.

  • Brother speeder -
    let's rehearse -
    all together -
    good morning nurse.

  • Cautious rider -
    to her reckless dear -
    Let's have less bull -
    and more steer.

  • Speed was high -
    weather was not -
    tires were thin -
    X marks the spot.

  • The midnight ride -
    of Paul for beer -
    led to a warmer -
    hemisphere.

  • Around the curve - lickety-split -
    its a beautiful car -
    wasn't it?

  • No matter the price -
    no matter how new -
    the best safety device -
    in the car is you.

  • A guy who drives -
    a car wide open -
    is not thinkin' -
    he's just hopin'.

  • At intersections -
    look each way -
    a harp sounds nice -
    but its hard to play.

  • Both hands on the wheel - eyes on the road - that's the skillful driver's code.

  • The one who drives - when he's been drinking - depends on you - to do his thinking.

  • Car in ditch -
    driver in tree -
    the moon was full -
    and so was he.

  • Passing school zone - take it slow - let our little shavers grow - Burma Shave."
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