This afternoon I had the pleasure to attend author Max Wilk’s talk on They're Playing Our Song: Conversations with America's Classic Songwriters. This new edition of his 1973 book has 26 oral histories of legendary composers and lyricists with interviews that give readers an up-close-and-personal look at the individuals and inspirations behind some of the words and melodies that made musical history. Mr. Wilk provided anecdotes and recollections of some of these gifted individuals including Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Lorenz Hart and Jule Styne. He also read some bad, insufferable lyrics from popular songs. Soprano Susan Terry and pianist Mark Cherry performed songs from Bells Are Ringing, Gypsy and Babes in Arms.
During the question and answer period, a member of the audience asked him if he had ever heard of a particular song that she had known many years ago. Another attendee started to sing it. After the talk, I located the title and words and wish to share it. The song, “The Carburetor – The Automobile Song” was written by Jewish comedian and vaudevillian Benjamin (Bell) Zamberg and was originally recorded in the 1940's.
A couple was once seated in a little motor car,
They were sweethearts and they didn't care who knew
They were holding hands together as the motor loudly roared
And the price of gas went up to twenty-two
He was an automobile mechanic working steady throughout the year
And in terms of his profession, he whispered in her ear
Will you love me when my carburetor's busted,
Will you love me when I cannot shift my gears?
When my spark plug is as dead as Kelsey's doorknob,
And my clutch begins to slip, will you shed tears?
Will you love me when my old exhaust gets noisy,
Will you love me when my pump is on the blink?
By heck,
When my fender has a dent,
And my piston-rod is bent,
Will you love me when my flivver is a wreck?
Will you love me when my fuel pipe is empty,
Will you love me when my rear end's worn and torn,
Will you love me when my rim-rod's old and rusty,
Will you love me when I cannot blow my horn?
Will you love me when my inner tube is busted,
Will you love me when my tank begins to leak?
By heck,
When the junkman says, "No use",
And my nuts and bolts are loose,
Will you love me when my flivver is a wreck?
Comments (1)
The song you listed as by Benny Bell was probably not by him as the 1916 musical See America First includes the song "Will You Love Me When My Flivver is a Wreck".
Posted by John Patrick | July 20, 2008 9:10 PM
Posted on July 20, 2008 21:10