"If, after hearing my songs, just one human being is inspired to say something nasty to a friend, or perhaps to strike a loved one, it will all have been worth the while." - Tom Lehrer
He literally spent 2 minutes roasting Cameron Macintosh, then turned around and performed this song as if he hadn't just taken a decades-long break from performing music. He doesn't sound like he skipped a single day here. What an absolute gigachad.
I don't know what I find funnier, the fact the Queen is in the audience for this or the fact it was her sister (Princess Margaret) that helped popularise him over here
Shocked me to realise he is 70 here! And was already 40ish in his peak performing days. He has that youthful spark to him here which he always did, hope he's still doing well today
What I find most amazing is that, having been away so long, caring so little for his being known, having so little interest in performing again...he's still such an effortless natural performer. I suspect he could walk on stage even now, 16 years later, and rattle it off as easily.
You can poison Pigeons in the park. "But I ache for the touch of your lips dear, BUT MUCH MORE for the touch of YOUR WHIPS dear.... This man was a musical genius! Thanks for the educated laughter.
In a c1995 programme on BBC radio, TL explained that when they first did the "Tom Foolery"show in the 80s, nobody laughed at "Squirrel" bacause, as he found out, there were no squirrels any more in the London parks. He substituted "Sparrow" and got his laugh again. Hence its use here for Cameron Macintosh's show..
Whoever told him that was misinformed: there are (and were in 1995) squirrels in London Parks. And no-one laughs at "Sparrow" in this video either. It is the case, however, that sparrows are certainly more disliked, and more common, across London than squirrels (which are generally view as cute).
Hasn't there been a problem for years in Britain of American grey squirrels driving out the native red ones and various suggestions for culling the former?
So, 20 years ago, he sounded and looked just dandy~~~good for him, ~~~and now he's 90-ish and I wish him all sincere thanks this Thanksgiving season, for his sly wit and charm, and looking forward to his next "first time in 25 years" performance in 2023~~~
I love this man. He's really been a constant in most of my life and never fails to boost my mood. Still alive and kicking, last I checked. _Here's_ a guy who should get a peace prize, not the usual sociopathic politicians. Salut, Tom Lehrer!
He's one of the men that give me hope for mankind. If there's brilliant men and women like that out there, maybe we've got a shot (or we'll all go together when we go)
Funny you should say that. I heard that he quit performing because they gave the Nobel Peace Prize to Henry Kissinger, and that he decided at that point that reality was becoming so absurd that satire couldn't keep up. (I don't know if that's true, but it makes for a good story.)
Tom Lehrer is fucking brilliant. I own all his recordings and I've;have memorized many of his songs, including "The Elements", "Poisioning Pigeons", "New Math", "Vatican Rag" and of course my favorite, "The Masochism Tango.".
There are people who spoof popular music, from Alan Sherman to Weird Al. Mark Russell had a similar voice and played the piano, but his humor was political. Tom did both political humor and his dark twisted humor.
The man don't need looks to win women. I'd take him out at 96 and beyond. He will say it's a bad idea. When he leaves in December, he'll tell me "I told you so in May".
Seriously? I think he looks pretty damn good for 70. Hasn't put on weight. Hasn't lost his hair. Hasn't lost his voice or his music. Now that I think about it, I hate his guts. Let him get older just like the rest of us. ;-)
Me too. So much so that when I started directing, doing Tomfoolery was high on my list. Since 2001, I've directed it 7 times (Santa Cruz (twice), San Jose, San Francisco (twice), Santa Clara and Raleigh, NC) and now this summer in honor of Tom's 132nd birthday we are doing it one more time in San Francisco.
I've seen this question brought up a bit in the comments...why the change to "sparrow" (instead of squirrel). This song was written during the time Boston instigated a pest control of pidgeons by lacing corn with strychnine. (Yes, they really did this, and yes you can imagine the unintended consequences of this). Squirrels are not as abundant in the UK, so when he performed this song, the joke never landed. He found out about the above fact and changed it to "sparrow", which are far more common. Joke landed again.
Absolutely sheer genius. Tom's song writing and His comedy is totally timeless. He makes todays musical comedians sound talentless and hackneyed. Brilliant!!
No greater topical songwriter exists. Tom Leher changed the world and only a small part of the world has ever heard of him. I count myself fortunate to have been listening to him for 50 years.
One of the greats musical satirist ever! As a kid, I grew up listening to three Tom Lehrer LP's that my dad had. I have a hunch that people like Weird Al and Sean Morey did, too.
This man made all his music available in the public domain simply for the love of music. He is a treasure and should be remembered be admired as such for THOUSANDS of years to come.
How delightful in my aged insomniac wandering to find Tom Lehrer gently poisoning pigeons in the park! As a Catholic when young , The Vatican Rag” still is the most shocking--and I imagine it is his pet as well (based on his Copenhagen closing grin.) The extended adolescence of some of the comments here will be excused by him but not by me.
"birdies all try and hide / cyanide", "pulse will be quickenin' / strychnine" - fantastic rhymes! I was introduced to the songs of Tom Lehrer by my lab supervisor, Tony Riley, when I was working in my year off between school and university. It was a chemistry lab and we were talking about vague imprecise measurements such as smidgen - which led (naturally!) onto Tom Lehrer and Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. Then when I was at university I heard the song for real when a friend played her cassette of "An Evening Wasted..." - and I was hooked. Fantastic satirist, very funny, very witty, a superlative wordsmith but also capable of very memorable songs. Interesting to see him later in life, still with glasses although discreet wire-framed ones rather than those dated horn-rimmed ones in the 1960s recordings. Still just as recognisable.
I've been a fan of Tom Lehrer since the first time I heard one of his songs on the Dr. Demento show back in 1986. To see new footage of him after all this time is really quite amazing.
Thanks for posting! My confessor taught me this song. He loved it. Nothing wrong about this song. Teaches some truth. Now we could add a line about women taking their purses up to receive communion. I told one lady that I forgot my purse, was I supposed to take it up there. Perhaps ppl who bring their cell phones to church could use this ringtone, then I wouldn't get mad. Satire is a dying art, bring it back! Peace!
You can notice he sometomes decided to switch up lyrics like in National Brotherhood week you can find him saying Cassius Clay and Mrs. Wallace instead Lena Horne and Sheriff Clark
Thank you Tom Jenkins (my dad) for introducing me to the brilliant Tom Lehrer. Over 45 years of enjoyment from this man.. his quick wit, humour and somewhat odd but wonderful lyrics set me up nicely for frank zappa ... humour definitely belongs in music 👍🏻
Pure genius, I grew up with my Dad's Tom Lehrer record and I still love and laugh to his songs 45 years on! All the best and thanx to Tom wherever he is now.
I was introduced to 2 of his albums in the late 70's while at college and can still sing everyone of them. Including his song of the elements of the periodic table put to the tune of, "I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General" from Pirates of Penance. I'll never forget the director of Rochester Gay Men's Chorus singing and dancing the Masochism Tango - in red sequin drag with a bass soloist in the chorus. Priceless. Lehrer was always way too humble, way too self deprecating. Did he write trash? Of course, and there is a place in our most hallowed songlists for really good trash!
Absolutely! I was amazed, hearing his songs for the first time, and got a student hooked on his more... school-oriented ones. Hopefully, they'll still remember him in a few years!
Ah, the wonderful and super-effective Tom Lehrer Pigeon Removal System. Gotta love it. EDIT: It's 2021 as I write this, and Mr. Lehrer is 92, and presumably still using a smidgen of strychnine and poisoning pigeons in the park.
Well now, it's been 25 years since this performance, so he really ought to come out of retirement again for a performance in his 90s! And I am curious if anyone knows the history of this song. When I first heard it I swore it must have been based on the tune of "Come Josephine, In My Flying Machine" but it's hard to find confirmation of that anywhere.
It's him, Stephen Fry, Morgan Freeman and David Attenborough I'm worried for. They're all getting on in years, and the World will be a much Sadder Place when they're all gone. We have to enjoy these wonderful guys while they're still alive.
We loved Tom Lehrer in Denmark, and he was made an Honorary Student after a Concert in Copenhagen, I think? I have "The Remnants of Tom Lehrer", the full collection of his songs in a box!
He always changed his lyrics and some of his monologues during his performances. For instance, in Australia, his standard (and recorded) monologue for Be Prepared is "a tribute to those noble little bastions of decency" but in Australia, he changed it to "bastions of democracy". LOL!
Thanks! You Lehrer scholars really know your stuff! (I realize that, even way back in the day, he was using both "sparrow" and "squirrel." I was just joking around, trying to get a laugh. I never meant to disseminate any misinformation.)
I find it very sad that there is no one today who can do satire as well as Tom Lehrer and the late lamented George Carlin. Mr Lehrer, thank you so much for so many years of laughing at our foibles. You are a treasure, sir.
Tom Lehrer is the best... From time to time I listen to his songs about how we people live and misunderstand the world around us. --- I'm certainly not the first that have seen the reference between Tom Lehrer's pigeons and the killing of, and experiments with jews and other 'unwanted' persons in Germany during WWII. Or am I the first? /JD
John- I don't know if you're the first or the last, but I'm not seeing it. I don't think any of his songs are *that* heavy. I am respectfully disagreeing.
@@CopiousJohn We can agree to disagree in peace. This seems to be a solution that many has a problem mastering. Do you have suggestions to other, similar performers I should know? With respect JD
"If, after hearing my songs, just one human being is inspired to say something nasty to a friend, or perhaps to strike a loved one, it will all have been worth the while." - Tom Lehrer
My man.
I honestly don't know if this quote is made up or real. Either seems just as likely. Lol.
@@VoidHalo Its not against any religion to want to dispose of a pidgin.
"Mr. Lehrer's muse is not fettered by such inhibiting factors as taste." ---The New York Times
@@VoidHalo Oh, it's for real, all right. It's a "quote" from the professor in the liner noters on the back of one of his LPs, I forget which one.
my new life's goal
'Go from adolescence to senility and bypass maturity'
Copy that guys
E X C E L L E N T !
i totally encourage you to do so
Goal? You mean all those people put there are TRYING to be that way?
Fun fact, you can reach all three and still keep immaturity and have fun. I'm having the time of my life!
He literally spent 2 minutes roasting Cameron Macintosh, then turned around and performed this song as if he hadn't just taken a decades-long break from performing music. He doesn't sound like he skipped a single day here. What an absolute gigachad.
He never stopped playing, just performing for the public.
I'm literally glad that you figuratively cleared up that literal ambiguity. I was figuratively baffled.
I don't know what I find funnier, the fact the Queen is in the audience for this or the fact it was her sister (Princess Margaret) that helped popularise him over here
He was DECADES beyond his time when he first performed...... and still is .
Timeless, that's what he is.
When you get to the point where STEPHEN SONDHEIM is introducing you, know you’re a big deal.
Shocked me to realise he is 70 here! And was already 40ish in his peak performing days. He has that youthful spark to him here which he always did, hope he's still doing well today
He's 95!
@@diane2644
Wow. Thanks
The Marx Brothers were also all in their 40's when their first films were produced !!
What I find most amazing is that, having been away so long, caring so little for his being known, having so little interest in performing again...he's still such an effortless natural performer. I suspect he could walk on stage even now, 16 years later, and rattle it off as easily.
And I so wish someone could find the handle to convince him to do it. Just once. In front of a lot of HD cameras, and a really good mic.
i bet he totally could
There's something wondering about those old videos though with lower quality recordings
I honestly hope that will happen! But how do we get to that point though? Contact a talk show or something?
Well... he is 89 years old as I write this. I mean, maybe he could still do it but that'd be a hell of a convincing to get him on stage again. lol
He never lost it.
When he said, “course you do”, that’s when i knew
@@stay4rosty382 That’s when you knew that Spring is the loveliest time of the year?
"My pulse will be quickenin', with each drop of strychnine..." has to be the greatest rhyme in the history of song.
I loved how he paired 'try and hide' with 'cyanide'. Such a perfect rhyme :')
I love most:
"We'll murder them amid laughter and merriment
Except for the few we take home to experiment"
A true wordsmith. One of a kind.
Or from a different song by TL:
"Relations, sparing no expense, 'll
Send some useless old utensil,
Or a matching pen and pencil!"
He does this throughout his lyrics. No one has matched him as a wordsmith.
Learning that Stephen Sondheim and Tom Lehrer knew each other as boys adds so much to both their biographies.
You can poison Pigeons in the park. "But I ache for the touch of your lips dear, BUT MUCH MORE for the touch of YOUR WHIPS dear.... This man was a musical genius! Thanks for the educated laughter.
You can raise welts like nobody else..as we dance to the masochism tango..
“Fracture my spine & swear that you’re mine!”
Ah, "The Masochism Tango"-one of my favourites, too. Can you just picture Morticia and Gomez Addams dancing to that one?
The song was inspired by NYC's program of poisoning pigeons.
In a c1995 programme on BBC radio, TL explained that when they first did the "Tom Foolery"show in the 80s, nobody laughed at "Squirrel" bacause, as he found out, there were no squirrels any more in the London parks. He substituted "Sparrow" and got his laugh again. Hence its use here for Cameron Macintosh's show..
Whoever told him that was misinformed: there are (and were in 1995) squirrels in London Parks. And no-one laughs at "Sparrow" in this video either.
It is the case, however, that sparrows are certainly more disliked, and more common, across London than squirrels (which are generally view as cute).
My take simply was that the Audubon Society doesn't deal with squirrels... so sparrows made more sense?
I was wondering about that, because the CD I have definitely uses "Squirrel".
@@sharoncasey92 I learned it as "squirrel", so I noticed this change, too.
Hasn't there been a problem for years in Britain of American grey squirrels driving out the native red ones and various suggestions for culling the former?
When I begin to lose my faith in humanity, I play some Lehrer - works every time.
And then it REALLY sings to new depths!
Sings or sinks - or both! I am so glad to find these parks. I know every word still..
You mean GAIN. I'm glad to be a sicko.
And then you still have no faith in humanity but you can laugh about it now.
So, 20 years ago, he sounded and looked just dandy~~~good for him, ~~~and now he's 90-ish and I wish him all sincere thanks this Thanksgiving season, for his sly wit and charm, and looking forward to his next "first time in 25 years" performance in 2023~~~
His birthday is actually fast approaching - he'll be 91 on April 9th.
93, actually, in 2021, as of April 9th
Wow, he's still alive?
@@forgor4410 He was 93 on April 9th.
94 now
Hadn't performed on stage for 25 years.
Still got it.
I love this man. He's really been a constant in most of my life and never fails to boost my mood. Still alive and kicking, last I checked.
_Here's_ a guy who should get a peace prize, not the usual sociopathic politicians.
Salut, Tom Lehrer!
Still alive and kicking, still alive and quickening, still alive and sickening! LOL
He's one of the men that give me hope for mankind. If there's brilliant men and women like that out there, maybe we've got a shot (or we'll all go together when we go)
Glenn Horowitz IKR NEVER LET THIS DIE PLEASE
Funny you should say that. I heard that he quit performing because they gave the Nobel Peace Prize to Henry Kissinger, and that he decided at that point that reality was becoming so absurd that satire couldn't keep up.
(I don't know if that's true, but it makes for a good story.)
That's at least three of us who regularly check whether Tom Lehrer is still alive!
Everyone watching this wants to give this man a big hug. Cmon dont lie
Sure! I've had a crush on him for 50+ years.
Tom Lehrer is fucking brilliant. I own all his recordings and I've;have memorized many of his songs, including "The Elements", "Poisioning Pigeons", "New Math", "Vatican Rag" and of course my favorite, "The Masochism Tango.".
In all of the comedic stuff I write, I aspire to the standard set by Tom Lehrer. I know I'm there when people say to me, "You are a sick man."
He's so amazing. Nobody quite like him.
There are people who spoof popular music, from Alan Sherman to Weird Al. Mark Russell had a similar voice and played the piano, but his humor was political. Tom did both political humor and his dark twisted humor.
Tom Lehrer and Stephen Sondheim went to camp together! Can you imagine what fun they had.
I was not expecting to see him at the start of this video
Well, Tom was a year older, so they may not have hung out together as much, though in later years they often shared puzzles with each other.
Two more great and Brilliant Jewish entertainers without whom the world would be a less amusing place
It's a wonder that one of them didn't write a song about it! Coulda been as great as Alan Sherman's "Hello, Mudda, hello, Fada . . . ."!
Lord please let age as slowly as he and let me have as many marbles left amen!
He was 70 when he did this. He's 84 now, in 2012, and still kicking.
Damn that man still alive today
And he turns 94 today!
He's alive and well still today!
It's 2024 and he's 96
@@Bobithan_Bobby_Bob_XXVII_Jryep, going into the last month of 2024 and he's hanging in there just fine.
Aged look but a voice as good as before
+Claire Fan Timing, inflection, playing, still on top!
So true!
The man don't need looks to win women. I'd take him out at 96 and beyond. He will say it's a bad idea. When he leaves in December, he'll tell me "I told you so in May".
Seriously? I think he looks pretty damn good for 70. Hasn't put on weight. Hasn't lost his hair. Hasn't lost his voice or his music. Now that I think about it, I hate his guts. Let him get older just like the rest of us. ;-)
I was very young when I first heard Tom Lehrer. A big part of my childhood, which explains a lot about the person I grew up to be.
Same here lol
sixfingr was just thinking the same. Played his two LPs to death between about the ages of 5 and 10!
Me too. So much so that when I started directing, doing Tomfoolery was high on my list. Since 2001, I've directed it 7 times (Santa Cruz (twice), San Jose, San Francisco (twice), Santa Clara and Raleigh, NC) and now this summer in honor of Tom's 132nd birthday we are doing it one more time in San Francisco.
sixfingr me too!
@@jonrosen7980 132nd birthday? Not likely. :P
I've seen this question brought up a bit in the comments...why the change to "sparrow" (instead of squirrel). This song was written during the time Boston instigated a pest control of pidgeons by lacing corn with strychnine. (Yes, they really did this, and yes you can imagine the unintended consequences of this). Squirrels are not as abundant in the UK, so when he performed this song, the joke never landed. He found out about the above fact and changed it to "sparrow", which are far more common. Joke landed again.
Thank you for explaining that. I was used to squirrel.
I never realised how old these songs actually are. Some of Tom's songs sound as if they could have been written yesterday.
You mean, like say.....'Masochism Tango'?
@@GrocMaxyes, that’s quite the song 😂
My favorite Tom Lehrer song of ALL TIME. I play my guitar and sing this at parties, and it brings the house down.
The man is a god.
he invented jello-shots, he really is a god.
I looked up his Wikipedia Page and He is still alive as of 2021. He is over 90 years old.
More power to him.
Absolutely sheer genius. Tom's song writing and His comedy is totally timeless. He makes todays musical comedians sound talentless and hackneyed. Brilliant!!
Tom Lehrer is one talented and irreverant dude. Who doesn't love him?
Henry Kissinger, apparently. TBH that's more a badge of honor imo
2023 and Tom's still alive!
I don't know how happy he is about it though
I wish he would do a talk show interview now (before it's too late!)
Crazy to think he's seventy here, and kicking at 95 in 2023!
Wow Tom Lehrer is always on. At least joke per sentence, almost one joke per clause, amazing.
And that was the first room he's worked in a long time without a blackboard.
Proof that age does not diminish talent and still so relevant
This man basically shaped modern humor
No greater topical songwriter exists. Tom Leher changed the world and only a small part of the world has ever heard of him. I count myself fortunate to have been listening to him for 50 years.
An absolute international treasure! Smart humour, clever humour.
He has such a beautiful voice, unchanged after these years
Wow I didn't know he ever performed "in colour" Thanks for this clip!
There's also a video of "I got it from Agnes" in colour on RUclips. Some sort of talk show in the 80's looks like.
So this version gives the squirrels a break and targets sparrows, instead.
See my main comment for the reason.
Pigeons👌
So I noticed
One of the greats musical satirist ever! As a kid, I grew up listening to three Tom Lehrer LP's that my dad had. I have a hunch that people like Weird Al and Sean Morey did, too.
This man made all his music available in the public domain simply for the love of music. He is a treasure and should be remembered be admired as such for THOUSANDS of years to come.
He's fabulous!! 👍😅
How delightful in my aged insomniac wandering to find Tom Lehrer gently poisoning pigeons in the park!
As a Catholic when young , The Vatican Rag”
still is the most shocking--and I imagine it is his pet as well (based on his Copenhagen closing grin.)
The extended adolescence of some of the comments here will be excused by him but not by me.
"birdies all try and hide / cyanide", "pulse will be quickenin' / strychnine" - fantastic rhymes!
I was introduced to the songs of Tom Lehrer by my lab supervisor, Tony Riley, when I was working in my year off between school and university. It was a chemistry lab and we were talking about vague imprecise measurements such as smidgen - which led (naturally!) onto Tom Lehrer and Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. Then when I was at university I heard the song for real when a friend played her cassette of "An Evening Wasted..." - and I was hooked.
Fantastic satirist, very funny, very witty, a superlative wordsmith but also capable of very memorable songs.
Interesting to see him later in life, still with glasses although discreet wire-framed ones rather than those dated horn-rimmed ones in the 1960s recordings. Still just as recognisable.
Can you imagine sitting through on of his math lectures? Hell, I’d even pay attention! I am a survivor of new math, WTH is base 8?
This man has been in my memory since the early fifties, and he never fails to improve my day. Kudos!
Enters out of nowhere after 25 years.
Roasts his friend.
Plays one of his many bangers.
Leaves for permanent retirement amidst thundering applause. 🗿
Love him.
The highest compliment to be introduced (and honored) by Sondheim!
I've been a fan of Tom Lehrer since the first time I heard one of his songs on the Dr. Demento show back in 1986. To see new footage of him after all this time is really quite amazing.
Thanks for posting! My confessor taught me this song. He loved it. Nothing wrong about this song. Teaches some truth. Now we could add a line about women taking their purses up to receive communion. I told one lady that I forgot my purse, was I supposed to take it up there. Perhaps ppl who bring their cell phones to church could use this ringtone, then I wouldn't get mad. Satire is a dying art, bring it back! Peace!
"...the most glorious baritone voice since the memorable concert debut of Millard Fillmore..."
"Sparrow"?
When did it stop being a squirrel?
Maybe he got all the squirrels. He's been doing this song for a while, after all...
I thought that. Maybe he just got the words wrong. It's been a long time . . .
Kate Holland in his show in the 60's it was a sparrow
You can notice he sometomes decided to switch up lyrics like in National Brotherhood week you can find him saying Cassius Clay and Mrs. Wallace instead Lena Horne and Sheriff Clark
Radiation does that to squirrels.
Every time I hear one of his songs, THAT one is my favorite . . . until the NEXT one comes along! But, it's hard to beat THIS one!
Tom Lehrer is absolutely brilliant. I loved him as a teenager and I love him now.
I turn to Tom Lehrer as an example that there will always be hope for humanity.
Sondheim and Lehrer honouring cameron macintosh, how many legends can fit in one stage?
Brilliant! Wish he would be writing now more than ever!
As I understand, he said he stopped because satire became irrelevant when Henry Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize
His voice didn’t change at all. :D
What a legend. Maybe there'll be someone like him this day and age.
How is this icon still alive in 2019?? :O it's like he's immortal!
Where has this man been all my life? Just discovered and cant get enough.
glad he’s still alive
Just genius....he is just genius.
Brilliant. It's a pity though that the full recording was never released, as he also performed 'Who's Next' that night.
Are you sure? As far as I heard he only sang Pigeons.
@@jonrosen7980 He reportedly did an updated version of Who's Next that night.
I recall this one and the Masochism Tango on the Dr. Demento radio show. Miss that show.
The Demented Doctor still does his thing as a stream. I haven't listened, but it's there for us when we want it.
See www.drdemento.com.
Thank you Tom Jenkins (my dad) for introducing me to the brilliant Tom Lehrer. Over 45 years of enjoyment from this man.. his quick wit, humour and somewhat odd but wonderful lyrics set me up nicely for frank zappa ... humour definitely belongs in music 👍🏻
Pure genius, I grew up with my Dad's Tom Lehrer record and I still love and laugh to his songs 45 years on! All the best and thanx to Tom wherever he is now.
It's like when he changes the city in his "Pollution" song! He's so brilliant!
He still looks so well for his age he’s also so funny ❤
Delicious commentary on our most twisted senses of humor and intellect. This man is a true treasure in two American centuries.
I was introduced to 2 of his albums in the late 70's while at college and can still sing everyone of them. Including his song of the elements of the periodic table put to the tune of, "I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General" from Pirates of Penance. I'll never forget the director of Rochester Gay Men's Chorus singing and dancing the Masochism Tango - in red sequin drag with a bass soloist in the chorus. Priceless. Lehrer was always way too humble, way too self deprecating. Did he write trash? Of course, and there is a place in our most hallowed songlists for really good trash!
I sing this out loud every springtime! It captures the magic so well.
He's 92 years old now 😳
Absolutely! I was amazed, hearing his songs for the first time, and got a student hooked on his more... school-oriented ones. Hopefully, they'll still remember him in a few years!
Ah, the wonderful and super-effective Tom Lehrer Pigeon Removal System. Gotta love it.
EDIT: It's 2021 as I write this, and Mr. Lehrer is 92, and presumably still using a smidgen of strychnine and poisoning pigeons in the park.
Well now, it's been 25 years since this performance, so he really ought to come out of retirement again for a performance in his 90s! And I am curious if anyone knows the history of this song. When I first heard it I swore it must have been based on the tune of "Come Josephine, In My Flying Machine" but it's hard to find confirmation of that anywhere.
95 years old and still with us as I write this.
It's him, Stephen Fry, Morgan Freeman and David Attenborough I'm worried for.
They're all getting on in years, and the World will be a much Sadder Place when they're all gone.
We have to enjoy these wonderful guys while they're still alive.
Oh, he regularly plagiarized music and put other words to them, copyright be damned.
THE dean of living American composers.
definitely a brilliant man, with a great sense of humor. lots of great very funny songs.
Irreverent, clever and hilarious without being vulgar. What a talented guy!
I went to see him at Sydney Town Hall in the 1960s and always love him, listen to his records.
What a genius this guy is!!
Dang, nice to see his voice and piano wizardry doesn't age
you know, "Lehrer" means "teacher" in german. I wish my teachers had his sense of humor...
We loved Tom Lehrer in Denmark, and he was made an Honorary Student after a Concert in Copenhagen, I think? I have "The Remnants of Tom Lehrer", the full collection of his songs in a box!
I thought it was, "And maybe we will do in a Squirrel or two." Come on Tom, I like sparrows!
He always changed his lyrics and some of his monologues during his performances. For instance, in Australia, his standard (and recorded) monologue for Be Prepared is "a tribute to those noble little bastions of decency" but in Australia, he changed it to "bastions of democracy". LOL!
He sometimes changed his lyrics. His Boy Scout song Be Prepared has two or three recorded versions.
Thanks! You Lehrer scholars really know your stuff!
(I realize that, even way back in the day, he was using both "sparrow" and "squirrel." I was just joking around, trying to get a laugh. I never meant to disseminate any misinformation.)
This maybe my favorite YT video. Even the comments are better than usual.
I love, love, LOVE Tom Lehrer!
I find it very sad that there is no one today who can do satire as well as Tom Lehrer and the late lamented George Carlin. Mr Lehrer, thank you so much for so many years of laughing at our foibles. You are a treasure, sir.
No performing for 25 years ,and he sounds amazing!
TL absolutely killed this. thanks a lot for the clip.
Tom Lehrer is the best...
From time to time I listen to his songs about how we people live and misunderstand the world around us.
---
I'm certainly not the first that have seen the reference between Tom Lehrer's pigeons and the killing of, and experiments with jews and other 'unwanted' persons in Germany during WWII.
Or am I the first?
/JD
John- I don't know if you're the first or the last, but I'm not seeing it. I don't think any of his songs are *that* heavy. I am respectfully disagreeing.
@@CopiousJohn
We can agree to disagree in peace.
This seems to be a solution that many has a problem mastering.
Do you have suggestions to other, similar performers I should know?
With respect
JD
What a gent