# Tom Lehrer appreciation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2007, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960 "2007-04-06T07:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/41 "2007-04-07T03:33:37Z")
Probably Vatican Rag is my favorite – I get up and dance around the room whenever that one plays – but DAMN! pretty much everything he wrote was hilarious, not to mention brilliant. By the way, a few years ago the Boston Globe did an interview with Tom Lehrer, and it turns out that, while he’s no longer performing, his life has been a good one, and he was and still is happy in it. Reading that made my day. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/42 "2007-04-07T03:45:54Z")
“It’s a sobering thought to realize that when Mozart, for example, was my age, he had been dead for three years.” I’ve been using that line — with annual emendations — for nearly fifteen years now. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/43 "2007-04-07T09:20:47Z")
cher3 writes: \> Okay, it wasn’t our real fight song, but it should have been. It appears to me that “Fight fiercely, Harvard” is indeed one of the several fight songs used at Harvard today. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/44 "2007-04-07T09:40:31Z")
I was shopping several years ago, around Christmas time. The store had a video playing; some sort of Broadway retrospective. I wasn’t paying much attention. But a few minutes later I heard _Poisoning Pigeons in the Park_, checked the TV, and there was someone playing the piano and singing. I knew the voice so well it was almost impossible to accept having a face to go along with it. (The video turned out to be _Hey, Mr. Producer_, a tribute to Cameron Mackintosh, producer of many musicals in London’s West End. Lehrer’s best line in his intro was that after Cameron Mackintosh produced _Tomfoolery_, his next show was _Cats_, “and on the basis of those two shows, he became very wealthy, indeed.”) I’m curious how many of the Lehrer fans here know what he looks like. And for those who are curious, a quick search turned up some video on YouTube. One of them has Lehrer doing some songs for a college math class, and includes some rarities even I hadn’t heard before. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/45 "2007-04-07T17:27:28Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm] I’m curious how many of the Lehrer fans here know what he looks like. And for those who are curious, a quick search turned up some video on YouTube. One of them has Lehrer doing some songs for a college math class, and includes some rarities even I hadn’t heard before. [/QUOTE] Tom Lehrer looks (and actually sounds a bit) like Dr. Work, my US Military History prof from my sophomore year. That said, he sounds EXACTLY like a friend of mine who posesses a very similar sense of humor (though the friend in question has never sung when I’ve been within earshot). Until I saw a picture to go along with it, I just visualized my friend tooling away on a piano, which is itself a highly entertaining mental image. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/46 "2007-04-07T19:03:43Z")
There are innocuous folk songs But we regard them with scorn The folks that sing them have no social conscience Why, they don’t even care if Jimmy cracked corn … ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/47 "2007-04-07T19:10:35Z")
I was brought up on Lehrer. Probably the first music I ever heard was his; the records (10" platters, which is weird) were rarely off the turntable during my childhood. My father does The Elements as a party piece. I was going to post the “sister” stanzas from Clementine - but I see **kunilou** already has - which is some of the cleverest rhyming ever written. I bow before his genius. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/48 "2007-04-07T21:41:20Z")
One wedding I worked last year had the bride and groom dancing to “When You Are Old and Gray” as their first dance: > [@](#): > > So say you love me here and now, > I’ll make the most of that. > Say you love and trust me, > For I know you’ll disgust me > When you’re old and getting fat. That was one cool wedding. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/49 "2007-04-07T23:38:59Z")
Apparently he’s [still alive](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer) . . . I wonder why he hasn’t released any new albums since the '60s? ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2007, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/50 "2007-04-07T23:41:39Z")
When I was six a family from Venezuela rented a house in our neighborhood, for a few months. They had a girl around my age so my mother suggested/ordered that I invite her over to play. Since my Spanish was almost nonexistent and her English was minimal, once we finished swinging on the swings we had to do something. I suggested we sing to the record player. We spend 3 happy hours singing, mostly _Send the Marines_. For some unknown reason she was never allowed to play with me again. My mother tried to explain the concept of satire to me and that some people, who’s main language was not English, might not understand satire. _…For might makes right, And till they’ve seen the light, They’ve got to be protected, All their rights respected, 'Till somebody we like can be elected_ ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/51 "2007-04-08T02:55:36Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Apparently he’s [still alive](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer) . . . I wonder why he hasn’t released any new albums since the '60s? [/QUOTE] All we know for sure is that it evidently did not involve either Henry Kissinger or Werner Von Braun [Cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer#Departure_from_the_scene), from Wikipedia, the most reliable source known to academia. ---
**Author:** ![jlrepka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@jlrepka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlrepka)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/52 "2007-04-08T06:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Apparently he’s [still alive](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer) . . . I wonder why he hasn’t released any new albums since the '60s? [/QUOTE] I was a graduate student at UC Santa Cruz in the early 90’s. I sat in on a couple of classes in a non-major’s math course Lehrer taught. He also taught a course in musical theater – as I recall it required an audition to get in… He has nothing against performing in public, he just didn’t like the life, the traveling and all… If I recall he felt that he made enough money from his albums in the 60’s that he could lead a quiet life. He once said that he liked college so much he went to graduate school, and teaching gives him the opportunity to hang out on campus (a pretty good life if you can get it…) I’ve always dreamed of tying Mark Russell to a chair and forcing him to listen to Lehrer’s catalog over and over again until he gets it… ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/53 "2007-04-08T07:46:47Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Apparently he’s [still alive](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer) . . . I wonder why he hasn’t released any new albums since the '60s? [/QUOTE] I remember hearing him interviewed on _Dr. Demento_ 15 years ago (roughly). He stated that he has a hard time writing new satire, because now he just gets angry at society, and the anger shows too much in the songs, which to him, ISN’T good satire. One of my favorite quotes, from “In Old Mexico”: “Rover was killed by a Pontiac. And it was done with such grace, and artistry, that the witnesses awarded the driver both ears, and the tail.” _edited to add:_ Oh, and you can count me as another person who was introduced to Tom Lehrer through his parents (who also brought Spike Jones and Mel Brooks/Carl Reiner’s _2013_ into the house). ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/54 "2007-04-08T11:06:23Z")
My parents had _Tom Lehrer Revisited_, even the cover and sleeve notes were hilarious. I had a road trip with a work colleague and he asked me to bring along some CDs. He’d never heard of Tom Lehrer and his reaction to _I Hold your Hand in Mine_ was priceless. Favorite line? Impossible, so many mentioned already. From Lobachevsky: I was given first original paper to write. It was on ::deep breath:: AnalyticandAlgebraicTopologyofLocallyEuclideanMetrizationofInfinitedifferentialbyRiemannianManifold. This I know from nothing. His version of _The Elements_ seem to get a mention in any popular science book on the Elements or Periodic table, have a look 🙂 Also _Werner Von Braun_ get quoted in books about the Apollo program: A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience Call him a Nazi he won’t even frown “Nazi schmatsie” says Werner Von Braun. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/55 "2007-04-08T11:53:15Z")
I often include Lehrer’s [_Pollution_](http://www.casualhacker.net/tom.lehrer/the_year.html#pollution) in concerts I give locally. I change the verse where he says… Lots of things there that you can drink, But stay away from the kitchen sink. The breakfast garbage that you throw in to the Bay, They drink at lunch in San Jose. …to more appropriate local references. We have a bar/restaurant nearby called _The Hitching Post,_ and Green Bay (city and body of water) is close, too, so the lyric goes: Lots of things there that you can drink, But stay away from the kitchen sink. The breakfast garbage that you pitch, They munch for lunch up at _The Hitch._ or: Lots of things there that you can drink, But stay away from the kitchen sink. The breakfast garbage that you throw away, They drink at lunch down in Green Bay. I hope Tom Lehrer appreciates my lyricism. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/56 "2007-04-08T12:25:34Z")
I’m sure he would - he did the same thing when HE performed _Pollution_. ---
**Author:** ![Mapache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@Mapache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mapache)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/57 "2007-04-16T23:55:14Z")
For some reason, the line that’s been stuck in my head for about forty years is: Or you might end up like Oedipus I’d rather marry a duckbilled platypus Then end up like old Oedipus Rex. Anybody who can get a duckbilled platypus into a song, and make it rhyme with Oedipus, deserves to be beatified. At least. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/58 "2007-04-17T03:05:48Z")
I was in Jr High when the High School “cool dudes” that I hung out with (and idolized) took me to a local showing of _Tom Foolery_. I was hooked after that and spent many a late night listening to _Dr Demento_ on the radio hoping to catch the fully orchestrated version of “Masochism Tango.” Nowadays, I use Tom Lehrer songs to audition for musical farces (most recently, _A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum_) – the “smirk and a wink” quality of his songs is a huge winner with auditioners in that situation. My favorite audition piece is the last 16 bars of “Be Prepared!”… _If you’re looking for adventure of a new and different kind And you come across a Girl Scout who is similarly inclined Don’t be nervous, don’t be flustered, don’t be scared! this is where I dig a condom out of my back pocket and throw it at the auditioners Be prepared!_ Oh yeah, and for all you musical types out there, I heartily recommend the book [_Too many songs by Tom Lehrer (with not enough drawings by Ronald Searle)_.](http://www.amazon.com/Too-Many-Songs-Tom-Lehrer/dp/0394749308) Good times =) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/59 "2007-05-08T19:30:22Z")
I don’t think this has been linked to before in this thread (at least not directly—there’s a link on the Wikipedia page), but yesterday I happened to find this [video recording](http://www.archive.org/details/lehrer) of Tom Lehrer performing five math songs, which is a must-see for any math geek Tom Lehrer fans. ---
**Author:** ![Aldila1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Aldila1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldila1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960/60 "2009-05-06T21:15:26Z")
OK, does anyone else wake up at night with a Tom Lehrer song running through his or her head? Here’s a question that’s bugged me for some time… What, exactly, is the omitted line in “My Home Town”? TL said he had to leave it out because the performance was being recorded. I’d love to know it. Can anyone supply it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-lehrer-appreciation-thread/398960.md?page=4)