A popular song from 1913.
Words by J. Will Callahan.
Music by Paul Pratt.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. What is it keeps this world of ours a-going?
What is it makes us happy night and day?
What is the precious thing for which we’re blowing
Each blessed dollar of our weekly pay?
What takes us, breaks us, shakes us and awakes us?
What is the greatest thing beneath the sun?
What helps us all along the line, then makes us
Have many bills to pay when day is done?
CHORUS
Gasoline! Gasoline!
Everywhere you go you smell it
Every motor seems to yell it
Gasoline! Gasoline!
That’s the cry that echoes thro your dreams
Gasoline! Gasoline!
In the land of milk and honey
‘Tisn’t love, it isn’t money
Rules the world, now ain’t it funny?
Gasoline! Gasoline!
2. It hurries us to scenes of joy or sadness
Up in the air, upon the land or sea
It cleans our clothes, it fills our hearts with gladness
And likewise fills the pickets of John D.
It kindles fires, it puts them out, it carries
Policemen, firemen, merchant, king and slave
It thrills, it kills, it separates, it marries
It takes us from the cradle to the grave