Title

Keep Away From the Fellow Who Owns AN Automobile

Composer & Lyricist

Irving Berlin
(1888-1989)

Irving Berlin, who has died at the age of 101, had a long successful career of over 50 years spanning both world wars. His almost 3,000 songs, 30 Broadway shows and 17 Hollywood musicals amounted to a unique testament to a talent for creating tunes and lyrics that millions of people in several generations could identify with.

Date

1912

Keep Away From the Fellow Who Owns An Automobile Lyrics

1st Verse

There's a certain flirtin' man with money in the bank
The man I mean owns a machine, the kind you have to crank
His great delight is to invite a girlie for a whirl
In his machine and I just mean to kind o' warn each girl

Chorus

Keep away from the fellow who owns an automobile
He'll take you far in his motor car
Too darn far from your Pa and Ma
If his forty horsepower goes sixty miles an hour say
Goodbye forever, goodbye forever
There's no chance to talk, squawk or balk
You must kiss him or get out and walk
Keep away from the fellow who owns an automobile

2nd Verse

Mary White went out one night in Harry's new machine
They rode quite far when Harry's car ran out of gasoline
The hour was late and sad to state no gas could Harry get
The latest word I overheard is that they're walking yet

Chorus

Keep away from the fellow who owns an automobile
He'll take you far in his motor car
Too darn far from your Pa and Ma
If his forty horsepower goes sixty miles an hour say
Goodbye forever, goodbye forever
There's no chance to talk, squawk or balk
You must kiss him or get out and walk
Keep away from the fellow who owns an automobile