Oh, the glorious memories of past days
Combing long flowing hair with swept back duck-tails
Smooth waves that would make a surfer gaze
Sadly the glory days leave only tales
But, I do remember the TV ad…
”Brylcreem… A little dab’ll do ya!”
Photo: Me in about the seventh grade!
Today at d’Verse, De Jackson is taking me into my past, asking us to write a Quadrille poem (exactly 44 words) with the word dab in it. When I as an adolescent, I had lots of hair. Brylcreem was my hair cream. It is amazing what you could do with it when combing it back into the Elvis Presley style duck-tail wave. Funny how the jingles never seem to leave your brain. 😎
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com …and click on the Mr. Linkey box to read more.
So cute, Dwight. I remember hearing the advertisement, though I don’t remember anyone actually using it.
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My dad referred to it as “the greasy kid stuff.”
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😀
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Amazingly it must have had a lot of alcohol in it, because it actually dried out well, without feeling greasy.
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Interesting… someone else said her dad said the same thing!
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I think it was a common phrase in the ’40s.
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Interesting! Thank you for your comment. 7th grade was a long time back.
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Oh Dwight, 7th Grade was a long time ago, and we have not ‘found that fountain’ of youth yet…
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Ha Ha! you are right about that! It is amazing I can still remember that far back!! LOL
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Love this, Dwight! My brain has always remembered jingles, too. And now as an advertising copywriter I sometimes get to write them. 😉
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Wow! that is great! I know they are much better than some of the commercials i see on TV. Thanks De.
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You haven’t changed a bit! You have the same smile, and that’s all that counts.
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Thank you Liz! I am glad the hair loss did not take the smile away!! :>)
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You’re welcome, Dwight! 😀
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I like the fact you used a photo that you didn’t have copyright concerns about.
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Well, what a handsome dude you were — and still are. I remember the ad, and how they sort of slurred the words “a little dab’ll do ya” .. at least that’s what I heard,. Seems it was sung, but can’t remember the tune.
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Yes, you are right! You can hear it on De’s d:Verse prompt post.
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Dwight,
I definitely know the expression “a little dab’ll do ya!” – but I don’t actually have any idea where I know it from, nor where it came from originally… is that commercial the original?
-David
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yes, It was on TV all the time. Google Brylcreem images.
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And for the girls: Dipity Do!
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Misspelled: Dippity Do
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:>)
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yes! How cute!
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We had it at home, though I never used it. My (slightly) older brother was a Brylcremer, though, and had a coif even more, um, designed than yours, here. He just passed away in September (74 yrs) and I considered tossing an old photo into the cremation with him, but refrained. Thanks for sharing your work.
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you are welcome! Sorry for the loss of your brother.
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Dwight, I remember the words and melody well. “Brylcream, a little dab’ll do ya. Brylcream, the girls will all pursue ya. They love to get their fingers in your hair!” My father used it. Not sure about my younger brother.
Dwight, I am sure the girls pursued you! Such a cute picture! ❤
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I can still remember the smell and sheen of Brylcreem on my Dad’s hair. Fun poem and delightlul picture of the 7th grade Dwight — what a great smile! 😀
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My next year was just the opposite! LOL Thanks Dora
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It’s really glorious memories?
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This photo always makes me smile! Thank you!
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My father, in then British Guiana, also used Brylcreem to style his hair.
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It seemed to work very well! I loved it!
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My what a handsome dude! I like your Widow’s Peak!! ❤
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Ha Ha! I was very cool back then!!
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Thanks for sharing the photo – I think people use styling gel today. I am not sure if they are the same thing.
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Thank you Truedessa. You are welcome! I think what they use today is more greasy than the Brylcreem.
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you were a dab looking charmer back then … oh what I’d give for a wave!
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Mee too! I loved having hair! It was sad when it started thinning in my sophomore year of College!
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wow that young, I went grey very young … until henna made me a red head 🙂
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Ha Ha! I’ll bet you are a good looking red head!!
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sure turned heads and created loads of arguments that it wasn’t my natural colour but it matched my pallid skin …
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Whatever works!
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Greasers indeed! And watch out for those jingles, corporate America trying to sell you its wretched things!
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Ha Ha! I can live with the cute jingles, it is the stupid ones I can’t deal with! Thanks for reading!
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Fun and nostalgic poem and adorable photo! 📷
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Thank you so much!
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This is awesome, Dwight! I still see the boyish charm in your face! Even without your magic cream! 🌞
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Ha ha! It was really all the cream! LOL Thanks Lisa
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You have the look of a scamp about you in this photo. I bet you kept your mom on her toes 🙂
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I was a little onray when I was preadolescent. But I was pretty good most of the time.
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🙂
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Your poem matches your cuteness here Dwight!!! Looka like Little of the Eddie Haskel in ya here.
Adorbs and love your hair! ❤️
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Glad you enjoyed it! I was enjoying life very much back then!
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loved it!! ❤️❤️❤️🤗
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:>)
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That’s a really sweet photo with a nice dab of history woven in!
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The prompt took me right back there!! Thank you!
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What a sweet smile! What twinkly eyes! What great hair! 🙂
“Peace. Love. A good hair day.” 😉
HUGS!!! 🙂
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I know we had Brylcream too but I associate it with Nivea. Nivea in hair… yuk!
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Ha Ha… no need for grease any longer! Now I need a wax and polish!! LOL
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🙂
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Wow, What a great post, Dwight! Walking down memory lane again! How could you have lived then and not remember “Brylcream – a little dab with do ya”. Isn’t amazing how an advertising slogan can stay with you for a lifetime? Just like an old song. The advertisers know the secret to brainwashing – repetition, endless repetition. I guess that’s the secret to lies and politics too! Ha!
😊😁✨✨🎉
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Yes, you are right on all counts! Those were the daze my friend!! Seems like a long time ago. Thanks Chuck!
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Yes, and then you here a song and it transports you back to a certain moment and it all seems real again.
Wish there was a manual on how to make that happen! Ha! 😊👍😁✨
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It happens all the time as we get older!
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What a great picture, Dwight! I remember the commercials for Brylcream – brings back old memories.
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Thanks Eugenia! This was a long time ago!
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Yes, it was, Dwight!
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Smooth waves that would make a surfer gaze….great line. Advertising jingles have a way of sticking in one’s memory banks.
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They sure do! I guess that is why they are so effective.
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Oh Dwight! Wish you could see the grin on my face now. As SOON as I saw the title the phrase “A little dab’ll do you” came to mind. My dad ALWAYS used Brylcream on his hair. He had the most beautiful wavy hair! And he showered AND washed his hair with that green Palmolive bar soap. No classy products on his hair for him! 🙂 Still grinning here…..thanks’ for the memories!
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I am glad this tickled your funny bone Lillian. Those were the days. I miss my wavy hair! Nothing there now but shine!! Thanks for your interesting comment!
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I do remember that we used to dress like that once per year…
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Ha ha… I dressed like that every day!! You must have been celebrating Grease!
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Nice photo
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What a cute kid! I do remember that jingle, as well as the look at that time.
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Thank you Sara. It was a cute jingle!
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This is absolutely delightful, Dwight 😀 I remember the advertisement! My father used to style his hair with it. 💝
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Thank you Sanaa! It was a big deal in the 1960s
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Brilcreen now that’s a memory. Think NY dad used that.
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Probably did! It worked very well.
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