IF YOU
DON’T KNOW
WHOSE SIGNS
THESE ARE
YOU CAN’T HAVE
DRIVEN VERY FAR
BURMA-SHAVE
Though most people of today’s generation have never even heard of Burma-Shave, ask anyone who lived from the 1920s to the early 1960s, and you will most likely bring up a few memories and tales from that vintage era.
Burma-Shave was a brand of brushless shaving cream sold from 1925 to 1966. The company was notable for its innovative advertising campaign, including rhymes posted throughout the nation’s roadways. Typically, six signs were erected, each of the first five containing a line of verse and the sixth displaying the brand name.
Burma-Shave was the second brushless shaving cream to be manufactured and the first to become a success.
The product was sold by Clinton Odell and his sons Leonard and Allan, who formed the Burma-Vita Company, named for a liniment that was the company’s first product. The Odells were not making money on Burma-Vita and wanted to sell a product that people would use daily. A wholesale drug company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the company was located, told Clinton Odell about Lloyd’s Euxesis, a British product that was the first brushless shaving cream made but which was of poor quality. Clinton Odell hired a chemist named Carl Noren to produce a quality shaving cream, and after 43 attempts, Burma-Shave was born.
To market Burma-Shave, Allan Odell devised the concept of sequential signboards to sell the product. Allan Odell recalled when he noticed signs saying Gas, Oil, Restrooms, and finally a sign pointing to a roadside gas station. The signs compelled people to read each in the series and would hold the driver’s attention much longer than a conventional billboard. Though Allan’s father, Clinton, wasn’t crazy about the idea, he eventually gave Allan $200 to try it.
In the fall of 1925, the first sets of Burma-Shave signs were erected on two highways leading out of Minneapolis. Sales rose dramatically in the area, and the signs soon appeared nationwide. The next year, Allan and his brother Leonard set up more signs, spreading across Minnesota and Wisconsin, spending $25,000 yearly on signs. Orders poured in, and sales for the year hit $68,000.
Burma-Shave sign series appeared from 1925 to 1963 in all lower 48 states except New Mexico, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Nevada. Four or five consecutive billboards would line highways so they could be read sequentially by motorists driving by.
This use of the billboards was a highly successful advertising gimmick, drawing attention to passers-by who were curious to discover the punch line. Within a decade, Burma-Shave was the second most popular brand of shaving cream in the United States.
The Odells wrote the first set of slogans; however, they soon started an annual contest for people to submit rhymes. With winners receiving a $100 prize, some contests received over 50,000 entries.
At their height of popularity, 7,000 Burma-Shave signs were stretching across America. They became such an icon to these early-day travelers that families eagerly anticipated seeing the rhyming signs along the roadway, with someone in the car excitedly proclaiming, “I see Burma-Shave signs!” Breaking up the monotony of long trips, someone once said, “No one could read just one.”
Burma-Shave sales rose to about 6 million by 1947, when sales stagnated for the next seven years and gradually began to fall. Various reasons caused sales to fall, the primary one being urban growth. Typically, Burma-Shave signs were posted on rural highways, and higher speed limits caused the signs to be ignored. Subsequently, the Burma-Vita Company was sold to Gillette in 1963, which became part of American Safety Razor and Phillip Morris. The huge conglomerate decided the verses were silly, and one of America’s vintage icons was lost to progress.
By 1966, every last sign had disappeared from America’s highways. A few ended up in museums, including a couple of sets donated to the Smithsonian Institution. Here are two of them:
Shaving brushes
You’ll soon see ’em
On a shelf
In some museum
Burma-Shave
Within this vale
of toil
and sin
your head grows bald
but not your chin – use
Burma-Shave
Burma-Shave Signs courtesy The Eisner-American Museum of Advertising & Design
Clinton Odell, the company’s founder, died in 1958. Allan Odell, who came up with the sign idea, passed away in 1994, and his brother Leonard in 1991.
Philip Morris sold the Burma-Shave brand to the American Safety Razor Company in 1968. Still, the name remained dormant until 1997, when it was reintroduced for a line of shaving cream, razors, and accessories. Although the original Burma-Shave was a brushless shaving cream, the name is currently used to market soap and shaving brush sets.
In recent years, replicas of the Burma Shave signs can be found along Route 66 in Arizona.
Enjoy these examples of Burma-Shave Slogans:
Shave the modern way
No brush
No lather
No rub-in
Big tube 35 cents drug stores
Burma-Shave
Goodbye! shaving brush
Half a pound for
Half a dollar
Very fine for the skin
Druggists have it
Cheer up face the war is over
Burma-Shave
“At ease,” she said
“Maneuvers begin
When you get
Those whiskers
Off your chin”
Burma-Shave
Substitutes
Like unseen barter
Often make one
Sad
But smarter
Burma-Shave
Drinking drivers
Enhance their
Chance
To highball home
In an ambulance
Burma-Shave
Takes the “H” out of shave
Makes it save
Saves complexion
Saves time & money
No brush no lather
Burma-Shave
Holler
Half a pound for
Half a dollar
Oh boy!
Shaving joy
Complexion save
Burma-Shave
Shave the modern way
Wash the face
Apply with fingers
Shave
Big tube 35 cents
Burma-Shave
No pushee
No pully
Smooth shavy
Feel bully
Burma-Shave
Said Juliet
To Romeo
If you
Won’t shave
Go homeo
Burma-Shave
Why does a chicken
Cross the street?
She sees a guy
She’d like to meet
He uses
Burma-Shave
Shaving brushes
You’ll soon see ’em
Way down east
In some
Museum
Burma-Shave
Five
Hundred
Thousand
Men
Use
Burma-Shave
Cheer up face
The war is past
The “h” is out
Of shave
At last
Burma-Shave
Half a pound
For
Half a dollar
At the drug store
Simply holler
Burma-Shave
Shaving brushes
You’ll soon see ’em
On the shelf
In some
Museum
Burma-Shave
Six
Hundred
Thousand
Men
Use
Burma-Shave
1880 A.D.
Straight razor and
Shaving soap
1930 A.D.
Safety razor and
Burma-Shave
The 50 cent jar
So large
By heck
Even the Scotch
Now shave the neck
Burma-Shave
Are your whiskers
When you wake
Tougher than
A two-bit steak?
Try
Burma-Shave
Modern man
Spreads it on
Pats it in
Shaves it off
See him grin
Burma-Shave
Buy a tube
Use it one week
If you then want
Your money back
Send us the tube
Burma-Shave
Hinky-dinky
Parley voo
Cheer up the face
The war
Is thru
Burma-Shave
Eight
Hundred
Thousand
Men
Use
Burma-Shave
Take a tip
For your trip
No wet brush
To soak
Your grip
Burma-Shave
Film protects
Your neck
And chin
So your razor
Won’t dig in
Burma-Shave
Early to bed
Early to rise
Was meant for those
Old fashioned guys
Who didn’t use
Burma-Shave
Be
No
Longer
Lather’s slave
Treat yourself to
Burma-Shave
One of the great discoveries
Goodbye! shaving brush
Old men look younger
Young men look handsomer
Very fine for the skin
Burma-Shave
Free–free
A trip
To Mars
For 900
Empty jars
Burma-Shave
A Christmas hug
A birthday kiss
Awaits
The woman
Who gives this
Burma-Shave
Try a tube
Its cooling
Power
Refreshes like
An April shower
Burma-Shave
One shave lasts
All day through
Face feels
Cool and
Smoother too
Burma-Shave
Every shaver
Now can snore
Six more minutes
Than before
By using
Burma-Shave
Your shaving brush
Has had its day
So why not
Shave the modern way
With
Burma-Shave
Two
Hundred
Thousand
Men
Use
Burma-Shave
Half a pound
For
Half a dollar
Spread on thin
Above the collar
Burma-Shave
One pound 85 cents
Half pound 50 cents
Big tube 35 cents
Don’t put it off
Put it on
Burma-Shave
Does your husband
Misbehave
Grunt and grumble
Rant and rave
Shoot the brute some
Burma-Shave
Shaving brushes
Such a bother
Burma-Shave
Looks good
To
Father
Tho stiff
The beard
That Nature gave
It shaves like down
With
Burma-Shave
I use it too
The bald man said
It keeps my face
Just like
My head
Burma-Shave
Grandpa’s
Out with
Junior’s date
Old technique
With brand new bait
Burma-Shave
No soggy brushes
In your grip
You’ve always
Got a
Finger tip
Burma-Shave
The big blue tube’s
Just like Louise
You get
A thrill
From every squeeze
Burma-Shave
The monkey took
One look at Jim
And threw the peanuts
Back at him
He needed
Burma-Shave
Substitutes
Can let you down
Quicker
Than a
Strapless gown
Burma-Shave
For shaving comfort
Without
A sting
That big blue tube
Has everything
Burma-Shave
6 million housewives
Can’t be wrong
Who keep
Their husbands
Right along in
Burma-Shave
We’re widely read
And often quoted
But it’s shaves
Not signs
For which we’re noted
Burma-Shave
Men who
Have to
Travel light
Find the 35 cent tube
Just right
Burma-Shave
It gave
McDonald
That needed charm
Hello Hollywood
Good-by farm
Burma-Shave
A shave
That’s real
No cuts to heal
A soothing
Velvet after-feel
Burma-Shave
Around
The curve
Lickety-split
It’s a beautiful car
Wasn’t it?
Burma-Shave
Our fortune
Is your
Shaven face
It’s our best
Advertising space
Burma-Shave
If Crusoe’d
Kept his chin
More tidy
He might have found
A lady Friday
Burma-Shave
Feel your face
As you ride by
Now don’t
You think
It’s time to try
Burma-Shave
If anything
Will please
Your Jill
A little jack
For this jar will
Burma-Shave
That barefoot
Chap
With cheeks of tan
Won’t let ’em chap
When he’s a man
Burma-Shave
If harmony
Is what
You crave
Then get
A tuba
Burma-Shave
The one horse shay
Has had its day
So has the brush
And lather way
Use
Burma-Shave
Uncle Rube
Buys tube
One week
Looks sleek
Like sheik
Burma-Shave
It’s a good
Old Spanish custom
Take your mug
And brush
And bust ’em
Burma-Shave
No matter how
You slice it
It’s still your face
Be humane
Use
Burma-Shave
Hello druggist
I don’t mean maybe
Yes
Sir!
That’s the baby
Burma-Shave
Half a pound
For
Half a buck
Come on shavers
You’re in luck
Burma-Shave
Is he
Lonesome
Or just blind–
This guy who drives
So close behind?
Burma-Shave
Golfers!
If fewer strokes
Are what you crave
You’re out of the rough
With
Burma-Shave
Pedro
Walked
Back home by golly
His bristly chin
Was hot-to-Molly
Burma-Shave
Substitutes
Can do
More harm
Than city fellers
On a farm
Burma-Shave
Pat’s bristles
Scratched
Bridget’s nose
That’s when
Her wild irish rose
Burma-Shave
The hobo
Lets his
Whiskers sprout
It’s trains–not girls
That he takes out
Burma-Shave
A beard
That’s rough
And overgrown
is better than
A chaperone
Burma-Shave
Drinking drivers
Don’t you know
Great bangs
From little
Binges grow?
Burma-Shave
Shaving brush
All wet
And hairy
I’ve passed you up
For sanitary
Burma-Shave
I know
He’s a wolf
Said riding hood
But Grandma dear,
He smells so good
Burma-Shave
Makes shaving
A
Grin game
Not
A skin game
Burma-Shave
A shave
That’s real
No cuts to heal
A soothing
Velvet after-feel
Burma-Shave
The cannoneers
With hairy ears
On wiry whiskers
Used tin shears
Until they found
Burma-Shave
The tube’s
A whopper
35 cents
Easy shaving
Low expense
Burma-Shave
Moonlight
And roses
Whiskers
Like Moses
Just don’t go together
Burma-Shave
The millionth man
Has joined
Our ranks
Of happy shavers
Many thanks!
Burma-Shave
Travelers!
All
You need is
A razor
And
Burma-Shave
Late risers!
Shave in just
2 minutes flat
Kiss your wife
Grab your hat
Burma-Shave
We don’t
Know how
To split an atom
But as to whiskers
Let us at ’em
Burma-Shave
Paper hangers
With the hives
Now can
Shave with
Carving knives
Burma-Shave
Wild men pulled
Their whiskers out
That’s what made
Them wild
No doubt–
Burma-Shave
Look
Don’t listen
Pop is trying
A substitute
Instead of buying
Burma-Shave
Little Bo-Peep
Has lost her Jeep
It struck
A truck
When she went to sleep
Burma-Shave
A man
A miss
A car–a curve
He kissed the miss
And missed the curve
Burma-Shave
Whiskers
Easy come,
You know
Why not make them
Easy go?
Burma-Shave
Bargain hunters
Gather ’round
For fifty cents
Still
Half a pound
Burma-Shave
Other things have
Gone sky high
Half a dollar
Still will buy
Half pound jar
Burma-Shave
From New York town
To Pumpkin Holler
Still
Half a pound
For half a dollar
Burma-Shave
A big
Improvement
Since the war
Is now on sale
In your drug store
Burma-Shave
Tube immense
Still
35 cents
Easy shaving
Low expense
Burma-Shave
Every day
We do
Our part
To make your face
A work of art
Burma-Shave
The bearded lady
Tried a jar
She’s now
A famous
Movie star
Burma-Shave
Jonah took
No brush
To mop his face
Where Jonah went
He needed space
Burma-Shave
The game laws
Ought to
Let you shoot
The bird who hands you
A substitute
Burma-Shave
Bachelor’s quarters
Dog on the rug
Whiskers to blame
No one
To hug
Burma-Shave
Bristly beard
Or silky fuzz
Just shave ’em back
To where
They was
Burma-Shave
Tho living costs
Are upward bound
Four bits
Still buys
Half a pound
Burma-Shave
Pity all
The mighty Caesars
They pulled
Each whisker out
With tweezers
Burma-Shave
Lather was used
By Daniel Boone
He lived
A 100 years
Too soon
Burma-Shave
Beneath this stone
Lies Elmer Gush
Tickled to death
By his shaving brush
Burma-Shave
College boys!
Your courage muster
Shave off
That fuzzy
Cookie duster
Burma-Shave
Every second
Without fail
Some store
Rings up
Another sale
Burma-Shave
That “pink toothbrush”
Is a curse
But that pink razor’s
A darn sight worse
Use
Burma-Shave
Noah had whiskers
In the ark
But he wouldn’t get by
On a bench
In the park
Burma-Shave
His face was smooth
And cool as ice
And oh Louise!
He smelled
So nice
Burma-Shave
Water heater
Out of kilter
Try the brushless
Whisker
Wilter
Burma-Shave
Helps
Your budget
Hold it’s ground
Half a dollar
Half a pound
Burma-Shave
Dewhiskered
Kisses
Defrost
The
Misses
Burma-Shave
With 200 kinds
From which to choose
2 million men
Prefer
To use
Burma-Shave
Avoid the store
Which claims
You should
Buy something else
That’s just as good
Burma-Shave
If you think
She likes
Your bristles
Walk bare-footed
Through some thistles
Burma-Shave
Grandpa’s beard
Was stiff and coarse
And that’s what
Caused his
Fifth divorce
Burma-Shave
Cutie invited
Varsity hop
Guy full
Of whiskers
Party a flop
Burma-Shave
It took years
To perfect
For you
A brushless cream
That’s greaseless too
Burma-Shave
I just joined
The young man said
A nudist camp
Is my face red?
No! I use
Burma-Shave
20 miles per gal.
Says well-known car
To go 10,000
Miles per gal
By half-pound jar
Burma-Shave
Hear about
The jolly tar
It smelled so good
He ate
A jar
Burma-Shave
Cooties love
Bewhiskered places
Cuties love the
Smoothest faces
Shaved by
Burma-Shave
Free! Free!!
A trip
To Mars
For 900
Empty jars
Burma-Shave
After one trial
You’ll want more
At the next
Good drug store
15 for 25 cents
Burma-Shave Blades
Here’s the winning
Shaving team
The perfect blade
The perfect cream
Burma-Shave Blades
Sharpest blade
Ever made
Comfort speed
Guaranteed
15 for 25 cents
Burma-Shave Blades
Hardly a driver
Is now alive
Who passed
On hills
At 75
Burma-Shave
Darling I am
Growing old
Nonsense!
Do as you
Are told — get
Burma-Shave
A whiskered gent
At a bazaar
Paid for
A kiss
But got a jar
Burma-Shave
Drive like
A railroad engineer
Take it easy
When the road’s
Not clear
Burma-Shave
Mirror on
The bathroom wall
What’s the
Smoothest shave
Of all?
Burma-Shave
Try a tube
The cream
That’s in it
Is making friends
A man a minute
Burma-Shave
Soap’s
That irritate
Their mugs
Turn jolly gents
To jitterbugs
Burma-Shave
Past
Schoolhouses
Take it slow
Let the little
Shavers grow
Burma-Shave
Mom and Pop
Are feeling gay
Baby said
As plain
As day
Burma-Shave
Listen shavers
Knock on wood
When offered
Something
“Just as good”
Burma-Shave
Bargain hunters
Gather ’round
Fifty cents
Buys
Half a pound
Burma-Shave
From New York town
To Pumpkin Holler
It’s half a pound
For
Half a dollar
Burma-Shave
Political pull
May be
Of use
For razor pull
There’s no excuse
Burma-Shave
Free
Illustrated
Jingle book
In every
Package
Burma-Shave
You’ll love your wife
You’ll love her paw
You’ll even love
Your mother-in-law
If you use
Burma-Shave
For painting
Cow-shed
Barn or fence
That shaving brush
Is just immense
Burma-Shave
When the jar
Is empty
Wife begins to sing
“For spices, jam & jelly
That jar is just the thing”
Burma-Shave
Lawyers, doctors
Sheiks and bakers
Mountaineers and undertakers
Make their bristly beards behave
By using brushless
Burma-Shave
Several million
Modern men
Will never go back
To the brush again
Burma-Shave
Little shavers
Don’t overlook
Illustrated
Jingle book
In every package
Burma-Shave
It’s not toasted
It’s not dated
But look out —
It’s imitated
Insist on
Burma-Shave
Shaving brush
Was like
Old rover
When he died
He died all over
Burma-Shave
Wise old Sandy
Shopped around
This is what
Old Sandy found
50 cents buys half a pound
Burma-Shave
The answer to
A maiden’s
Prayer
Is not a chin
Of stubby hair
Burma-Shave
Shaving brush
Don’t you cry
You’ll be a
Shoe dauber
By and by
Burma-Shave
Within this vale
Of toil
And sin
Your head grows bald
But not your chin — use
Burma-Shave
Free offer! Free offer!
Rip a fender
Off your car
Mail it in for
A half-pound jar
Burma-Shave
Everything
In it
Is fine
For the
Skin
Burma-Shave
He played
A sax
Had no B.O.
But his whiskers scratched
So she let him go
Burma-Shave
Bridge prize
For men
Just half a buck
Try it, hostess
Change your luck
Burma-Shave
Thrifty shavers
Now are found
Buying shaves
By the pound
One lb. jar 85 cents
Burma-Shave
You know
Your onions
Lettuce suppose
This beets ’em all
Don’t turnip your nose
Burma-Shave
Tube
Immense
35 cents
Easy shaving
Low expense
Burma-Shave
Keep well
To the right
Of the oncoming car
Get your close shaves
From the half-pound jar
Burma-Shave
Be a modern
Paul Revere
Spread the news
From ear
To ear
Burma-Shave
Whiskers long
Made Samson strong
But Samson’s gal
She done
Him wrong
Burma-Shave
At Xmas time
And birthdays too
We solve
Your problems right
For you — give
Burma-Shave
Half a buck
Half a pound
No substitute
Is ever found
For
Burma-Shave
Enthusiastic user
Henry J. McLass
Spreads our product
On the lawn
When he cuts the grass
Burma-Shave
The happy golfer
Find with glee
The shave
That suits him
To a tee
Burma-Shave
Eeny-meeny
Miny-mo
Save your skin
Your time
Your dough
Burma-Shave
Shaving brush
Is out of date
Use the
Razor’s
Perfect mate
Burma-Shave
If substitution
He should try
Just look that clerk
Right in the eye
And bellow
Burma-Shave
Riot at
Drug store
Calling all cars
100 customers
99 jars
Burma-Shave
To get
Away from
Hairy apes
Ladies jump
From fire escapes
Burma-Shave
Special treatment
Every hair
Holds it up
And cuts
It square
Burma-Shave
Your razor
Floats thru
The hair
With the
Greatest of ease
Burma-Shave
Ed’s face
Is rough
And rugged
Ed’s wife
Doesn’t hug Ed
Burma-Shave
Shaving brush
And soapy smear
Went out of
Style with
Hoops my dear
Burma-Shave
To every man
His shave
Is best
Until he makes
The final test
Burma-Shave
Smith Brothers
Would look immense
If they’d just
Cough up 50 cents
For half pound jar
Burma-Shave
Jimmie said a naughty word
Jimmie’s mother overheard
Soapsuds? No!
He preferred
Burma-Shave
Congressman Pipp
Lost the election
Babies he kissed
Had no protection
To win — use
Burma-Shave
Let’s give the
Clerk a hand
Who never
Palms off
Another brand
Burma-Shave
His tenor voice
She thought divine
Till whiskers
Scratched
Sweet Adeline
Burma-Shave
Old McDonald
On the farm
Shaved so hard
He broke his arm
Then he bought
Burma-Shave
As you journey
Down the years
Your mirror is
The glass that cheers
If you use
Burma-Shave
Cheer cheer
The gang’s
All here
Riding along
Three million strong for
Burma-Shave
When you drive
If caution ceases
You are apt
To rest
In pieces
Burma-Shave
All little rhyming
Jokes aside
Don’t be content
Until you’ve
Tried
Burma-Shave
You can’t reach 80
Hale and hearty
By driving 80
Home from
The party
Burma-Shave
Substitutes and
Imitations
Send ’em to
Your wife’s
Relations
Burma-Shave
He married Grace
With scratchy face
He only
Got one day
Of Grace!
Burma-Shave
College cutie
Pigskin hero
Bristly Kiss
Hero
Zero
Burma-Shave
Buy a jar
Take it from me
There’s so
Much in it
The last half’s free
Burma-Shave
He’s the boy
The gals forgot
His line
Was smooth
His chin was not
Burma-Shave
Put your brush
Back on the shelf
The darn thing
Needs a
Shave itself
Burma-Shave
It’s best for
One who hits
The bottle
To let another
Use the throttle
Burma-Shave
Don’t pass cars
On curve or hill
If the cops
Don’t get you
Morticians will
Burma-Shave
Give hand signals
To those behind
They don’t know
What’s in
Your mind
Burma-Shave
Tho tough
And rough
From wind and wave
Your cheek grows sleek
With
Burma-Shave
Film protects
Your neck
And chin
So your razor
Won’t dig in
Burma-Shave
A shave
That’s real
No cuts to heal
A soothing
Velvet after-feel
Burma-Shave
If hugging
On highways
Is your sport
Trade in your car
For a davenport
Burma-Shave
In cupid’s little
Bag of trix
Here’s the one
That clix
With chix
Burma-Shave
A guy
Who wants
To middle-aisle it
Must never scratch
His little Violet
Burma-Shave
Every day
We do
Our part
To make your face
A work of art
Burma-Shave
Thrifty jars for
Stay at homes
Handy tubes
For him
Who roams
Burma-Shave
We don’t
Know how
To split an atom
But as to whiskers
Let us at ’em
Burma-Shave
If you want
A hearty squeeze
Get our
Female
Anti-freeze
Burma-Shave
Can’t shave daily?
Tender hide?
Now be honest
Have you
Tried
Burma-Shave
The chick
He wed
Let out a whoop
Felt his chin and
Flew the coop
Burma-Shave
Give the guy
The toe of your boot
Who tries
To hand you
A substitute for
Burma-Shave
Ruddy cheeks
And face
Of tan
Neatly shaven
What a man!
Burma-Shave
If your hubby
Trumps your ace
Here’s something
That will
Save his face
Burma-Shave
Mug and brush
Old Adam
Had ’em
Is your husband
Like Adam, Madam?
Burma-Shave
25 prizes
Every week
Thruout the football season
You’ll find you’d rather
Use no lather
B’golly there’s a reason
Burma-Shave
To shaving brush
I need
Not cling
I will not hush
Of thee I sing
Burma-Shave
Hit ’em high
Hit ’em low
It’s action rooters crave
Millions boast — millions toast
The All-American shave
Burma-Shave
He had the ring
He had the flat
But she felt his chin
And that
Was that
Burma-Shave
Your beauty, boys
Is just
Skin deep
What skin you’ve got
You ought to keep
Burma-Shave
The answer to
A shaver’s dream
A greaseless
No brush
Shaving cream
Burma-Shave
When cutting
Whiskers
You don’t need
To leave one half
Of them for seed
Burma-Shave
Golfers!
Hole in one
Is quite a feat
Unless that hole
Is in your meat
Burma-Shave
If you
And whiskers
Do hobnob
Some sailor gob
Will steal your squab
Burma-Shave
If you’re just
An average man
Wanting to look
The best you can
Use
Burma-Shave
The cream
Preserves
Pa’s razor blade
The jar preserves
Ma’s marmalade
Burma-Shave
From Saskatoon
To Alabam’
You hear men praise
The shave
What am
Burma-Shave
Stomach ache!
Doctor —
Toothache!
Dentist —
Whiskers!
Burma-Shave
Bathroom shelf
Surprises me
From shaving clutter
It’s now free
I’m using
Burma-Shave
Salesmen, tourists
Camper-outers
All you other
Whisker-sprouters
Don’t forget your
Burma-Shave
Paper hangers
With the hives
Now can
Shave with
Carving knives
Burma-Shave
Romances are wrecked
Before they begin
By a hair
On the coat
Or a lot on the chin
Burma-Shave
Spring has sprung
The grass has riz
Where last year’s careless
Driver is
Burma-Shave
He cried
And felt his chin
‘Twas just another
Easy win for
Burma-Shave
Fire! Fire!
Keep cool
Be brave
Just grab
Your pants and
Burma-Shave
A silky cheek
Shaved smooth
And clean
Is not obtained
With a mowing machine
Burma-Shave
Cheek to cheek
They meant to be
The lights went out
And so did he
He needed
Burma-Shave
Henry the Eighth
Prince of friskers
Lost five wives
But kept
His whiskers
Burma-Shave
Henry the Eighth
had lots of trouble
Short term wives
and long term stubble
Burma-Shave
All these years
Your skin
Has dried
Why not moisten
Up your hide
Burma-Shave
Holler!
Half a pound
For half a dollar
Isn’t that
A cheerful earful?
Burma-Shave
Drive
With care
Be alive
When you
Arrive
Burma-Shave
Week-old beard
So masked his face
His bull dog
Chased him
Off the place
Burma-Shave
Little Willie
Modern soul
Busted Papa’s
Brush and bowl
Nice work Willie
Burma-Shave
‘Mid rising
Taxes
Soaring rents
Still half a pound
For fifty cents
Burma-Shave
Substitutes!
Smooth guys sell ’em
Easy marks use ’em
Well groomed men
Always refuse ’em
Burma-Shave
Every
Sheba
Wants a sheik
Strong of muscle
Smooth of cheek
Burma-Shave
If HER whiskers
Scratched YOUR cheek
You would
Send her out
To seek
Burma-Shave
The cannibals
Took just one view
And said
He looks too nice
To stew
Burma-Shave
You’ve laughed
At our signs
For many a mile
Be a sport
Give us a trial
Burma-Shave
If harmony
Is what
You crave
Then get
A tuba
Burma-Shave
The burma girls
In Mandalay
Dunk bearded lovers
In the bay
Who don’t use
Burma-Shave
Kids! Attention!
44 best jingles
Used so far
In jingle book
With tube or jar
Burma-Shave
Men
Who’ve tested
Every brand
Are just the ones
Who now demand
Burma-Shave
It’s in
The bag
Of every man
Who travels
Lightly as he can
Burma-Shave
My neck was sore
In front before
And also
Sore behind
Before
Burma-Shave
The crowd
You see
Around that store
Are Burma-Shavers
Buying more
Burma-Shave
Fingers were made
Before brushes —
Use ’em
They’re much safer
You can’t lose ’em
Burma-Shave
No pulling
At the whisker base
A soothing film
Protects
Your face
Burma-Shave
Don’t take
A curve
At 60 per
We hate to lose
A customer
Burma-Shave
If you have
A double chin
You’ve two
Good reasons
To begin using
Burma-Shave
Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated May 2024.
Burma Shave signs on display at Hackberry General Store in Arizona.