Lyr Req: Since Henry Ford Apologized To Me

Subject: Lyr Req: Since Henry Ford Apologized To Me
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 05:07 PM

I was at the Library of Congress this weekend for their new "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life In America. It's an excellent exhibit I heartily recommend to anyone in the DC area, or passing through (Jewish or not...).

Anyway, one of the sections featured a recording of Billy Jones and Ernest Hare's "Since Henry Ford Apologized to Me". Which amused me greatly (being Jewish and a former Mercury owner to boot), so I've decided I want to learn it. I've found a recording on-line that I can use to transcribe from, but I was wondering if anyone happened to have the lyrics lurking around and could post 'em.

Thanks!

-- Gary

Subject: ADD: Since Henry Ford Apologized To Me (part)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 05:44 PM

Hey, Gary, I found a recording here (click) - and there are lots of automobile songs at Car tunes. The song is on a nice columbia/Legacy collection called From Avenue A to the Great White Way, but the CD doesn't have lyrics printed. Columbia rarely does.
I did find a partial transcription here (click):

Since Henry Ford Apologized to Me
(Stamper-Rose-MacDonald)
Recorded by The Happiness Boys (Billy Jones and Ernest Hare), 24 August, 1927



I was sad and I was blue
But now I'm just as good as you
Since Henry Ford apologized to me
I've thrown away my little Chevrolet
And bought myself a Ford Cou-pe
I told the Sup'rintendent that
The Dearborn Independent
Doesn't have to hang up where it used to be
I'm glad he changed his point of view
And I even like Edsel too,
Since Henry Ford apologized to me
My mother says she'll feed him if he calls
'Gefilte-fish' and Matzah balls
And if he runs for President
I wouldn't charge a single cent
I'll cast my ballot absolutely free
Since Henry Ford apologized to me.

-Joe Offer-

Let me give you that link again: (click). It's worth a good look-around.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Since Henry Ford Apologized To Me
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 08:56 PM

Thanks Joe! Your first link (authentichistory.com) is the "recording" I alluded to above. I also added the Columbia/Legacy collection to my Amazon wish list (hey, my birthday's not too far away...maybe someone'll buy it for me!).

-- Gary

Subject: Lyr Add: SINCE HENRY FORD APOLOGIZED TO ME
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Oct 04 - 06:46 PM

Here's my transcription from the sound file (Click to play.)

The performance slides so easily from ordinary speech, to rhythmic recitation (matching the rhythm of the piano accompaniment), to singing, that it is difficult to mark the transition points, so I didn't bother! Also, I didn't bother representing the dialect, except at one point where the rhyme depends on it. I labeled the two voices A and B, not knowing which was Jones and which was Hare.

SINCE HENRY FORD APOLOGIZED TO ME
(Stamper-Rose-MacDonald)
Recorded by The Happiness Boys (Billy Jones and Ernest Hare), 24 August, 1927

A: Oy! Oy! Gevalt! Gevalt!
B: What's the matter, Abram?
A: Did you see the Yiddishe Journal this morning, ...?
B: No. What did it say?
A: Well, I don't mind telling you, that I'm so happy I could cry.
B: You're looking simply great. Why don't you celebrate?
A: I bought myself a ... a collar with a tie.
B: Well, if I see you making whoopee, what's your alibi?

A: I was sad and I was blue,
But now I'm just as good as you,
Since Henry Ford apologized to me.
B: That's why you threw away
Your little Chevrolet
And bought yourself a Ford coupé.
A: I told the sup'rintendent
That the Dearborn Independent
Doesn't have to hang up where it used to be.
B: You're happy now because he settled up the case.
A: I'm sorry I cut off my nose to spite my race.
B: Are you glad he changed his point of view?
A: Yes, I like even Edsel too,
A+B: Since Henry Ford apologized to me.

A: Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay!
B: When you heard he would be in town, did you write him in advance?
A: Sure! I asked him please to drop around to see my shop.
B: Did you say you were a tailor? A: Sure! I offered him a chance
To get a suit of clothes at cost. B: Including extra pants?

A: Certainly! For even after what he did,
I bought a tractor for my kid,
Since Henry Ford apologized to me.
B: The mama said she'd feed him if he calls
Gefilte fish and matzo balls.
A: Yeah! Yeah! And a bottle of beer. And even if he runs for President,
I wouldn't charge a single cent.
I'll cast my ballot absolutely free, maybe.
B: He's got an aviator for his new machine.
A: Instead of Charlie Lindbergh's, he's got Charles Levine.
B: You've got a cold. Now does it hoit?
A: Yeah, but I don't suffer in Detroit,
A+B: Since Henry Ford apologized to me.

I put the family jewels in hock
And bought myself a share of stock,
Since Henry Ford apologized to me.
I hear you had a baby yesterday,
And named it Henry right away.
For what I thought about that guy,
My wife was telling me that I
Should send him also my apology.
B: You got some whiskers and tied it on your Ford somehow,
A: And ev'rybody thinks I've got a Lincoln now.
B: I saw the brand-new cars he makes.
A: Instead of Lizzies, they'll be Jakes,
A+B: Since Henry Ford apologized to me.

[Here's a review of a book about Henry Ford's anti-Semitism.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Since Henry Ford Apologized To Me
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Nov 04 - 09:19 AM

The missing line from the lyrics to "Since Henry Ford Apologized to Me" is "...I bought myself a quart of hooch..."
Sorry Sony wouldn't let me run the lyrics.

Best wishes


Henry Sapoznik
Producer
From Avenue A to the Great White Way
Sony Columbia Legacy
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Since Henry Ford Apologized To Me
From: Cool Beans
Date: 01 Nov 04 - 12:07 PM

Anyone know the story behind the song?
Here in Detroit Henry Ford I (to distinguish him from HF II)is remembered as an unreconstructed anti-Semite, among other things. Did he at some point actually apologize for his views? It couldn't have been a sincere apology, as he continued railing against Jews (and other people) way past 1927, the date of the song.
What gives?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Since Henry Ford Apologized To Me
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Nov 04 - 09:19 PM

The apology was issued as part of the settlement of a lawsuit for defamation, and it was certainly insincere. Click the link I gave above, at the end of the lyrics, for more information.