Sadly lost among the spate of celebrity deaths these past few weeks was the departure of The Smartest Man Ever to Write a Song: Tom Lehrer. Bill Whittle brings the receipts.
Listen here on Soundcloud:
Cleaning Up D.C.
August 16, 2025
1 Comment
I’ve thought a bit on whether to say anything about this or not … I decided to because it illustrates an aspect of the human condition. So … I’ve never heard of this Tom Lehrer guy. I’m sure I’ve heard some of his music at some point but it was never with sufficient emphasis that the composer/performer stuck in my memory. None of my friends ever mentioned him by name that I can recall. No one ever put on an album or played a tape of his stuff and said “You gotta hear this guy” or anything like that. The… Read more »
The only reason I had heard of Firesign Theatre is that a friend through JR HS and HS loved comedy records and his parents would find him oddball stuff. I only recall Firesign because of how much crap I took for calling them FireSIDE over and over. Hey Fireside Theatre made sense in my young brain. Never got what Firesign meant. Don’t recall any of their bits, just the name because I got it wrong. But at one point in our lives we could quote Cosby’s “Noah” routine (right, what’s an ark), several Carlin bits, many Newhart bits (no, Abe,on… Read more »
I had to look it up but the name “Firesign” is based on the astrological signs of the four members of the comedy troupe. The “fire signs” are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. All four of them were one of those. Now we both know and can go to our graves happy in the knowledge we’re not ignorant on that one monumental bit of information. 😉 I always wondered about that myself, you reminded me to find out so that was kinda fun for a couple minutes. “No one would presume that someone who grew up in Lisbon was similar to… Read more »
Praying your trip may be pleasant and safe if you go. Have a good time. As to the other side being stupid, especially about the “Nazi” rants: I used to be surprised when I pointed out that Nazi referred, when translated, to the “National Socalist German Workers party”, and they had no idea about that. Now I expect the ignorance and have fun with it. I speak the word “Socialist” more loudly and get “interesting” reactions. Some times I even point out “workers” and say “like in ‘workers of the world unite’ You know, Communism.” Such fun. Yes, we dodged… Read more »
Well … yeah but our side does some stupid stuff too. For instance, J.D. Vance pays way, way too much attention to Ron Paul and Tucker Carlson. Both of them have some very dangerous irrational positions. I’m ashamed to say that I have in the past stuck up for Tucker Carlson and had I known then what I do now I would not have. I also used to think that Vance would make a good continuation of policy and practice on our side as POTUS when Trump leaves office. I’m not even a little bit sure about that anymore. I’m… Read more »
Our side does stupid stuff? Even occasionally Trump? Tell me its not so! 😏
Even I, the paragon of intelligence 🙄 😏 , do stupid stuff. Generally I correct myself (or have help, including from you) and so far not very serious in consequences.
Einstein once supposedly said “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe!”
And he’s supposedly smart!
And yes, people who want to ruin our nation for whatever reason will group together in a political party, no matter what the name.
Ramjets! See me in my office! Or was that Dudley Doright?
But ahhh… Can you sing “Now in the legend of the West. One name stands out from all the rest. He wore a cane and derby hat….”
Indeed.
I would step back and contemplate Israel and Jews as a microcosm of your view if the US of A.
As both a Jew and a 13th generation American, I have much faith that God is in control and, very oddly enough, things are working out…
At first read, I thought this statement Compounding the issue is the rise in technology that makes the voices of a few louder than any rational bearing to the whole. Was a defining one. It may just be that the stupid people have access to X and TikTok and can make their opinions heard by multitudes. Though much of the reposting is actually mocking, which is always good. But then I read this: If people had their own existential problems they would have no time, resources or desire to pursue these invented or hyperbolized issues. This is how good life… Read more »
Yeah, there’s no doubt in my mind that Mamdani is going to be very, very bad for New York City but then you get the government you deserve and … New York City’s communist problem will be largely isolated to New York City. Just as Los Angeles’ problems are isolated there, and Chicago problems are isolated there, and Detroit problems are isolated there … Etc. I know being from that area you probably don’t want to see what Commie Mamdani is going to do to it but it’s going to make a GREAT example of what not to do politically.… Read more »
I have an older brother who likes his job and makes good money. Wants to keep working another 4 or 5 years. He is much more of a native NY’er than I am as he lived in our first home in the Bronx until he was 10 then lived in the City after college until he had kids. Mamdani winning is his signal to get out. First time he is talking about Gulf Coast of FL or something like that. Lots of people like that. But almost all are like him, Reagan Republicans, so those left behind will still vote… Read more »
Yeah, I get it, same situation for me when I left CA. My uncle (now deceased) was a great guy and a staunch conservative. My aunt (his wife, also now deceased, my mom’s sister and not so great but you can’t pick your relatives) were by that time too old and had too many roots to make unassing Kalifornia doable. They were stuck there while I and my sister’s family escaped. If your brother can leave, he should. Mind you with “You get the government you deserve …” etc. I’m not gloating and I don’t hold any inherent ill will… Read more »
Just like here in VA where the vast majority of surface area is Red and relatively tiny but densely populated enclaves of Blue hold sway over the rest of us by dint of voting power, the entire nation is also divided up in the same manner. Even deep Blue States have Red enclaves and vice-versa. The impact of those enclaves on VA could be overcome by moving a great many federal employees elsewhere. e.g.: 37000 FBI employees. 11,000 work in DC (though 1500 are being relocated) If there are a total of 37000 FBI employees, why would more than 5%… Read more »
I agree wholeheartedly AND … That is, I believe, intentional. Just as the Democrats have gerrymandered representation for Republicans out of existence in several Blue States and even done the same to a lesser degree in Red States they have also purposely planned what you’re addressing too. It’s been said that Democrat policies have long been supporting unpopular positions. So unpopular that they can’t get the votes to advance their agenda(s) and remain in power without gaming the system. So they pack the courts, institute court overreach, gerrymander congressional districts, pack congressional districts with Federal employees they can count on… Read more »
Sure Noah… but what about The Chicken Heart that Ate New York?! Memorized that one too…
No but I could at one time do a pretty good job of some of his other bits. Now I only can recall snippets of the ones on which we wore out the grooves. Have to admit, I don’t even recall that one. Might have to look it up.
Understandable. However, Tom Leherer was of the same record album genre as Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers. Besides, how can you be in two places at once when you’re not anywhere at all? When you order a pizza to go with no anchovies and the guy says, I’m sorry – I spell my name Danger! Don’t complain that they never deliver up in the hills… If you’re looking for the Captain of the Ring ball team, you can bet he won’t be there…. Porgie. Porgie Tirebiter…. Coming Mother… Like with Tom Leherer, I memorized much of both… Read more »
Just my favorite satirical genius. First heard him in 1967 during my junior year in high school.
Some of my favorites were A christmas carol, Boy Scouts marching song and his submission for a new Army theme song (?).
Sorry to hear he has passed.
Like others, I do like “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park.” But I am surprised the gentlemen did not mention that this song was written for a show called “That Was the Week That Was” and the song is based on the news that New York City was either going to put out poison to control the pigeon population or were thinking of it. Apparently, Tom Lehrer and others would write songs based on the week’s news like that. In keeping with the self-deprecation, the CD set of all his music is called “The Remains of Tom Lehrer” and includes his… Read more »
My parents had this 1953 record.
I always will remember…. Rickety tickety tin… for when I go to kiss it, I get bloodstains on my tie… but nothing could be done because he was the mayor’s son… and strontium… plagiarize! plagiarize! plagiarize! And… of course – Everybody hates the Jews! Let’s see now…. back in the days of my callow youth; perhaps around 60 years ago; I would listen to all of my favorite music on my parent’s large, beautiful stereo cabinet. And I would memorize many of them – All of Jaque Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris; all of the Mikado;… Read more »
Dr. Demento – now there’s another blast from the past!
Lehrer was a favorite of my father, a proud Polack whose career was in the biologic sciences. Recruited by Notre Dame in football, his picture was on the front page of the Detroit Free Press shaking Frank Leahy’s hand at an All-City Sports Banquet. Pop said he didn’t know why they’d do that, because he told the famous coach while shaking his hand that he was going to college to be a scientist,, not a football player. A framed print of Titian’s “Venus of Urbino” hung over his office desk and a poster of Einstein’s head transposed onto a weightlifter’s… Read more »
I first heard Tom Lehrer in a car being driven through the dawn in the Sussex countryside on the way to a day’s mink hunting with the Kent & Sussex Mink Hounds. The first song my friend who was driving played was Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, (of course) I was hooked. Many thanks to Steve for the shout out to Cleo Lane. She was from my home town, Southall, Middlesex (West London, or as we call it now, Mordor). She went to Featherstone Road School, where I went a few decades later. I saw her live once, with her… Read more »
Your first sentence sounds like the intro to a Tom Lehrer song, maybe about “what if animals had guns?” It also reminds me of a joke. Two college girls were talking. One asked the other why, after she’d go out with boys, they’d give her things like jewelry and minks. (old joke) The girl asking said she never got a thing, except maybe a “Do you want to go out again?” The other girl winked and said that “Girls get minks the same way that minks get minks.”