Title

He'd Have to Get Under- Get Out and Get Under
(To Fix Up His Automobile)

This song, He'd Have To Get Under-Get Out and Get Under (To Fix Up His Automobile), acknowledged the fragility of early automobiles. A courting couple's romance is frustrated by mechanical problems: "A dozen times they'd start to hug and kiss and then the darned old engine it would miss."

The Smithsonian

Composer

Maurice Abrahams

Composer & Lyricist

Grant Clarke & Edgar Leslie

Date

1913

Recorded By

Billy Murray

1877 - 1954

Billy Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century. While he received star billings on Vaudeville, he was best known for his prolific work in the recording studio, making records for almost every record label of the era. He was probably the best selling recording artist of the first quarter of the 20th century.

Johnny O'Connornor bought an automobile,
He took his sweet-heart for a ride one Sunday,
Johnny was togged up in his best Sunday clothes,
She  nestled close to his side
Things went just dandy 'till he got down the road,
Then something happened to the old machinery,
That engine got his goat, off went his hat and coat,
Ev'rything needed repairs

Chorus

He'd have to get under, get  out and get under
to fix his little machine,
He was just dying to cuddle his queen,
But ev'ry minute, when he'd begin it,
He'd have to get under, get  out and get under,
then he'd get back at the wheel
A dozen times they'd start to hug and kiss
and then the darned old engine it would miss
and then he'd have to get under, get  out and get under,
and fix up his automobile.

Verse 2

Millionaire Wilson said to Johnny one day,
Your little sweetheart don't appreciateate you,
I have a daughter who is hungry for love,
She  likes to ride everyday,
Johnny had visions of a million in gold,
He took her riding in his little auto,
But ev'ry time that he went to say "marry me,"
'Twas the old story again

Chorus

He'd have to get under, get  out and get under
to fix his little machine,
He was just dying to cuddle his queen,
But ev'ry minute, when he'd begin it,
He'd have to get under, get  out and get under,
then he'd get back at the wheel
A dozen times they'd start to hug and kiss
and then the darned old engine it would miss
and then he'd have to get under, get  out and get under,
and fix up his automobile.