I was just introduced to this challenge today, and it really piqued my interest.  This week’s theme is drive or driving, and being a teacher/professor of History for many years, of course I thought first of a rather old song.  It’s 113 years old to be exact and is one I used in my History classes when students were studying the turn of the 20th century.

“In My Merry Oldsmobile” was published in 1905. It was a popular song in its day, with music by Gus Edwards (1879-1945) and lyrics by Vincent P. Bryan (1878-1937). It has been featured in several films and television shows and can be heard on Main Street in Disneyland and in the Disney Magic Kingdom.  The Oldsmobile brand of autos (sadly gone now) used somewhat different lyrics for several decades in their marketing jingle. The original version is sung by the well known singer of the day, Billy Murray (1877-1954), who recorded the song in 1905.

The lyrics tell the story of a young couple who court and fall in love while riding in his Oldsmobile…

Verse 1

Young Johnny Steele has an Oldsmobile

He loves his dear little girl

She is the queen of his gas machine

She has his heart in a whirl

Now when they go for a spin, you know,

She tries to learn the auto, so

He lets her steer, while he gets her ear

And whispers soft and low…

Chorus

Come away with me, Lucille

In my merry Oldsmobile

Down the road of life we’ll fly

Automobubbling, you and I

To the church we’ll swiftly steal

Then our wedding bells will peal

You can go as far as you like with me

In my merry Oldsmobile.

Verse 2

They love to “spark” in the dark old park

As they go flying along

She says she knows why the motor goes

The “sparker” is awfully strong

Each day they “spoon” to the engine’s tune

Their honeymoon will happen soon

He’ll win Lucille with his Oldsmobile

And then he’ll fondly croon…

Chorus

Come away with me, Lucille

In my merry Oldsmobile

Down the road of life we’ll fly

Automobubbling, you and I

To the church we’ll swiftly steal

Then our wedding bells will peal

You can go as far as you like with me

In my merry Oldsmobile.

Thanks to This Thing Called Life One Word At a Time for hosting this challenge every week. It looks like so much fun!