Steve Marriott
British guitarist and singer (1947-1991)
Tom Lehrer was an American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician who became popular in the 1950s and 1960s for his pithy and humorous songs. He often parodied popular musical forms and tackled social and political issues in his work, which has remained relevant long after their initial topical subjects.
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About the Tom Lehrer
Thomas Andrew Lehreris an American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician, who later taught mathematics and musical theater. He recorded pithy and humorous songs that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. His songs often parodied popular musical forms, though they usually had original melodies. An exception is “The Elements”, in which he set the names of the chemical elements to the tune of the “Major-General’s Song” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance.
Lehrer’s early performances dealt with non-topical subjects and black humor in songs such as “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park”. In the 1960s, he produced songs about timely social and political issues, particularly for the U.S. version of the television show That Was the Week That Was. The popularity of these songs has far outlasted their topical subjects and references. Lehrer quoted a friend’s explanation: “Always predict the worst and you’ll be hailed as a prophet.” In the early 1970s, Lehrer largely retired from public performance to devote his time to teaching mathematics and musical theater history at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tom Lehrer is an American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician who recorded pithy and humorous songs that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
Tom Lehrer’s songs often parodied popular musical forms, though they usually had original melodies. An exception is ‘The Elements’, in which he set the names of the chemical elements to the tune of the ‘Major-General’s Song’ from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance.
Lehrer’s early performances dealt with non-topical subjects and black humor, while in the 1960s, he produced songs about timely social and political issues, particularly for the U.S. version of the television show That Was the Week That Was.
Tom Lehrer was born on April 9, 1928.
In the early 1970s, Lehrer largely retired from public performance to devote his time to teaching mathematics and musical theater history at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Lehrer quoted a friend’s explanation: ‘Always predict the worst and you’ll be hailed as a prophet.’
Lehrer’s songs, which often parodied popular musical forms, became popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and their popularity has far outlasted their topical subjects and references.
18 Quotes by Tom Lehrer
- 1.
Think as you work, for in the final analysis, your worth to your company comes not only in solving problems, but also in anticipating them.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 2.
Bad weather always looks worse through a window.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 3.
Life is like a sewer… what you get out of it depends on what you put into it.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 4.
On my income tax 1040 it says “Check this box if you are blind.” I wanted to put a check mark about three inches away.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 5.
I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that!
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 6.
Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 7.
I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 8.
It is a sobering thought that when Mozart was my age, he had been dead for two years.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 9.
An actress must never lose her ego – without it she has no talent.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 10.
If a person feels he can’t communicate, the least he can do is shut up about it.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 11.
Be prepared, and be careful not to do your good deeds when there’s no one watching you.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 12.
The Army has carried the American ideal to its logical conclusion. Not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed and color, but also on ability.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 13.
I feel that if a person has problems communicating the very least he can do is to shut up.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 14.
In my youth there were words you couldn’t say in front of a girl; now you can’t say ‘girl.’
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 15.
It is sobering to consider that when Mozart was my age he had already been dead for a year.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 16.
Counting in octal is just like counting in decimal, if you don’t use your .
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 17.
Apart from that Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)
- 18.
When you get to fifty-two food becomes more important than sex.
Tom LehrerAmerican musician, satirist, and mathematician (born 1928)