You Can't Afford To Marry If You Can't Afford a Ford
Words and Music by Jack Frost
Published 1915

[verse 1]
Percy and Mary were in love with each other,
Till Mary took a ride with Percy's big brother
Who owned a great big real live automo-bubble,
So with the girls he never had any trouble.
Said Percy to Mary, "Won't you please be my wife?"
Said cute little Mary, "No, not on your life";
The man I marry must own a machine,
Now that doesn't mean a big limousine;
I know a car that goes on just kerosene,
And this is what I mean.

[chorus]
For you can't afford to marry if you can't afford a Ford,
You can't afford to even do without one;
You can't afford to wait until the season is late,
You must know I'm simply wild about one
No wedding bells will chime for you and I
Until you try a Ford to buy,
For isn't it a pity, oh dear, oh Lord
When you can't afford to marry,
And you can't afford to tarry,
For you can't afford to marry if you can't afford a Ford.

[verse 2]
Percy he pawned his watch and soon had the money,
"There's nothing to it now," he said, "little honey".
He owned a little Ford the very next minute,
Then he and his sweetheart Mary climbed right up in it.
Said Mary to Percy, then "Say, this is for life.
Drive to the parson, and I'll be your wife
There's no use waiting for the love days in June,
With mellowy moon so we can spoon*
Right in our Ford we'll spend our sweet honeymoon
As we sing our little tune."

[repeat chorus]

*kiss and cuddle