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 ***
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