# What do you think the quintessential Tom Lehrer song is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493 "2008-01-14T17:35:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493/41 "2008-01-15T10:20:10Z")
“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. > > But I digress ---
**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:** [January 15, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493/42 "2008-01-15T13:19:56Z")
My vote is for _Poisoning Pidgeons_ it’s not my favourite but it is completely typical, and timeless. A while back I took a road trip with a work colleage and he suggested I brought some CDs to play on the way, one I took was _Tom Lehrer Revisited_, he’d never heard of him. The first song I played was _I Hold your Hand in Mine_. It’s quite something to see a Lehrer-newbee’s reaction to: But still I keep your hand As a precious souvenir Here’s (yet) another version of [The Elements](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNfx0FO4hzs&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493/43 "2008-01-16T14:51:51Z")
Nothing will top [Pigeons](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhuMLpdnOjY) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493/44 "2008-01-16T15:03:06Z")
[QUOTE=Kilvert’s Pagan] PS… would Lehrer have been a great Doper, or what??? [/QUOTE] I believe he’s still alive, so “would…have been” is a bit premature. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493/45 "2008-01-16T15:27:15Z")
Vatican Rag, Folk Song Army, Oedipus Rex… Oh, and I can’t forget ‘It Makes a Fella Proud to Be a Soldier’. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493/46 "2008-01-16T15:52:46Z")
[QUOTE=Small Clanger] My vote is for [N.S. doesn’t matter…] it’s not my favourite but it is completely typical, and timeless. [/quote] Actually, I think that’s what so great about **all** of his work. it was done nearly half a century ago… and it’s still topical today. I’m not sure if this is good or scary… :eek: ---
**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:** [January 16, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493/47 "2008-01-16T16:27:54Z")
[QUOTE=Noone Special] . . . it’s still topical today. I’m not sure if this is good or scary… :eek: [/QUOTE] Well if you start with _The Old Dope Peddler_ probably the latter - :eek: indeed. References to The Bomb aren’t as effective as they were 50 (or even 30 when I first heard them) years ago, _We Will All Go Together When We Go_ is obviously still funny, just not as taboo breaking as it was back in the days of imminant nuclear war. Some of the satirical stuff you need some background info to get. Still funny tho’ From _MLF Lullaby_ Once all the Germans were warlike and mean But that couldn’t happen again We taught them a lesson in nineteen eighteen And they’ve hardly bothered us since then I’m guessing we’re hoping this doesn’t become topical again. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493/48 "2008-01-16T18:37:08Z")
[Send the Marines](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhZF66C1Dc&feature=related) . The lyrics are still true today. > [@](#): > > 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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-quintessential-tom-lehrer-song-is/433493.md?page=2)