The tune was already familiar in 1912! Gasoline is going up to 12 cents a gallon! Inflation! Horrors!
I’m really marveling at the clever graphics. Now we’d just mix a video to get this effect. In 1912 films were silent, and mixing technology hadn’t invaded phonograph records yet. (All mechanical, no electronics.) This artist and engraver managed to fit a tune, lyrics, and current-events backbeat all in one 2d visual. He was relying on the fact that nearly everyone could read music in 1912.
Needless to say, gasoline hasn’t gone up. It has gone down dramatically. 12 cents was 1/3 of the hourly wage. Current price is 3.60, which is 1/8 of current hourly wage.
Polistra's Mill 