Remembering Tom Lehrer

Introduction

We lost Tom Lehrer on 26th July 2025, an extremely subversive and excellent musician and composer, so I thought it may be worth gathering together a few of his tunes for your enjoyment.

I love that he looked so 1950s American, straight, and respectable, but his songs were loaded with subversive fun.

These won't be to everyone's taste, but if you like them, you will have a lot of fun.

This is just to remember the brilliant guy, and there are lots of his songs and performances on YouTube. I will just share a few of my favourites.

This seems to be the main Lehrer YouTube channel

And so to the songs

"Poisoning Pigeons In The Park"

This si probably his most famous song, but he looks and sounds like a university professor (he was a mathematician) an dhe was brilliant with words.

"The Vatican Rag"

This is a great dig at religion, without actually saying anything defamatory, showing Lehrer's brilliance with words.

"The Masochism Tango"

A friend of mine shared this, I find it funny, others might not, but another slice of Lehrer's brilliance.

"The Elements"

The Periodic Table to a Gilbert and Sullivan song, absolute brilliance.

This is what Tom calls "a list song." The original tune is from the "Major-General´s Song" in the comic opera "The Pirates of Penzance" (1879), with original words by W. S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan.

"So Long Mom (A Song for WW III)"

Sort of appropriate given what is happening now.

I know this is quite short, but I will leave you to explore this man's brilliant work via that YouTube Channel.