Model T

Jose Granda: Musical Media for Education

This song is available on Musical Media for Education's Volume 2 CD and Teaching Guide.

This content song tells the story of Henry Ford's Model-T with jazzy music reminiscent of the 1920's. The automobile is an important part of the economic and social history of the 20th Century. Students eager to drive will be interested in the story of the first mass produced auto.

Do you all see what I see?
Henry Ford's assembled us a Model-T. [1]
Let's take a drive down American history
Learn more about this Tin Lizzie. [2]

Ford's dream was to mass produce
An affordable car for everyday use. [3]
And after many tries and a few false starts
He organized a way to assemble the parts.

To build this vehicle in less than no time
Henry Ford built the assembly line. [4]
An inexpensive way to have the cars made
And even paved the way for machines today.

Ford paid his workers five bucks a day. [5]
So each could own a car that they had made.
And at this time it was the highest wage
Their dreams began to roll as people rolled away.

With the Model T we began to change
More Americans gonna make their way
And go into the suburbs in every state
Building bridges, railroads and major highways. [6]

Radius rod is above the brake
Front axle by the transmission case
You got your hand lever and foot control [7]
4 rubber tires just watch 'em roll.

Radiator power plant in front of the dash
Frame side member all the way in the back
Gasoline tank underneath the seat. [8]
You better look both ways when crossin' the street.

This is my story and this it goes
Henry Ford's the man and now you know
And for all you teenagers that'll wanna' drive [9]
Know the Model-T still remains alive.

Educational and Historical Footnotes from the Teaching Guide:
[1] Henry Ford did not invent the car, but he figured out a way to mass produce automobiles inexpensively.

[2] Tin Lizzie was the nickname for the Model-T Ford. Lizzie is short for Elizabeth, a common name for horses at the time. To people who had never seen anything like it, the Model-T was a "metal horse."

[3] Ford's dream was to make cars affordable to the masses. In 1909 he said: "I am going to democratize the automobile. When I'm through, everyone will be able to afford one, and about everyone will have one." By 1930 an astonishing 30 million cars were owned by American families. Once mass production was introduced the price of Ford's Model-T dropped every year. The Model-T cost $600 in 1912 and by 1924 the price had dropped to $290. As the price declined more people could afford to own an automobile.

This song is available on Musical Media for Education's Volume 2 CD and Teaching Guide.