Fun Music Information -> Tom Lehrer
This is the most recent information about Tom Lehrer that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Tom Lehrer, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).
Our newest site, amIwrong has an albums order quiz where you need to put this performer's albums in order of release.
Misspellings and other Alternate Names:
These are the alternate spellings of the performer's name we've had to correct in submissions to amIright.
Tom LeherUse a Song Title to Answer a Different Song:
Song & Band Name | Song & Band Name | Comments & Submittor Name |
| "2+2=5" | "New Math," Tom Lehrer | ...which is factually incorrect - Raphael |
Add a Letter To a Song Title:
"New Match" originally "New Math"
Deirdre Collins
"The Vatican Rage" originally "The Vatican Rag"
Is something "all the rage" there?
Alison Runyon
"The Vatican Drag" originally "The Vatican Rag"
Alison Runyon
Change a Letter In a Song Title:
"Pew Math" originally "New Math"
For those doing their math homework in church.
Deirdre Collins
"New Mash" originally "New Math"
Deirdre Collins
"The Vatican Wag" originally "The Vatican Rag"
Ava Murphy
"The Vatican Tag" originally "The Vatican Rag"
Ava Murphy
"The Vatican Sag" originally "The Vatican Rag"
Ava Murphy
There are additional song titles with a letter changed available.
Song Parodies:
Original Song Name | Parody Song Name | Parody Author |
| "George Murphy" | "Alan Johnson" | Phil Alexander |
| "Vatican Rag" | "Shat'sperian Shag! [Star Trek: The Cruise'ical]" | TJC |
| "The Wild West Is Where I Want to Be" | "The Vile West Ain't Where I Want to Be" | Barry J. Mitchel |
| "Vatican Rag" | "Vatican Shag!" | TJC |
| "Wernher Von Braun" | "Barack Don Crown" | Barry J. Mitchel |
| "Whatever Became of Hubert?" | "Whatever Became of Michael?" | Barry J. Mitchel |
| "The Old Dope Peddler" | "The Census Meddler (from ACORN)" | Barry J. Mitchel |
| "So Long, Mom" | "John McCain" | MasonR |
| "Whatever Became Of Hubert" | "Whatever Became Of Dubya" | Phil Alexander |
| "The Folk Song Army" | "The Greenback Party" | Phil Alexander |
There are additional song parodies available. | ||
Bad Choices for On Hold Music:
Song Name | Company/Organization | Submittor |
| "The Vatican Rag" | The Vatican (who else?) | Iludium Phosdex |
| Poisoning Pigeons in the Park | Racing Pigeon Clubs | The Skuz |
| The Vatican Rag | Catholic church/Convent | Ingeborg S. Nordén |
| The Element Song | The Science Department Of A College Or University | Morphine Moroii |
Duets Not Yet Performed:
First Band/Song Name | Second Band/Song Name | New Song Name | Submittor |
| Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be AC/DC | We Will All Go Together When We Go Tom Lehrer | Hell Ain't A Bad Place And We Will All Go There Together The next big vacation thing? | Brian |
Misheard Lyrics:
"Masochism Tango"
Misheard Lyrics: I long for the touch of your lips dear.
Original Lyrics: I ache for the touch of your lips dear.
| "Clementine"
Misheard Lyrics: Got her hung up on a splinter
Got her hung up on a splinter Clue them out! Original Lyrics: Got you hung up on a splinter
Got you hung up on a splinter Klooglimah! |
"It Makes A Fellow Proud To Be A Soldier"
Misheard Lyrics: Would love to be allowed to be a soldier!
Original Lyrics: What luck to be allowed to be a soldier!
| "We Will All Go Together When We Go"
Misheard Lyrics: When you see that icy beam [pronounced as 'bee-em']
Original Lyrics: When you see that I.C.B.M.
|
Misheard Lyrics Story:
|
"Clementine"
Misheard Lyrics: Got her hung up on a splinter
Got her hung up on a splinter Clue them out! Original Lyrics: Got you hung up on a splinter
Got you hung up on a splinter Klooglimah! |
Story about this misheard lyric by: Doug Montgomery I didn't expect Lehrer to do scat-singing, other than the 'Evrak!'at the start of this stanza.(My source for 'Klooglimah!' is letssingit.com ) |
Song Parody Fragments:
"My Home Town"
Better Lyrics:
[I originally created the lyric in a singing class in college at the request of the instructor] That fellow was no fool, who taught the golden rule,
And neither was our kindly Parson Brown;
They shocked the congregation when they tied the knot in My Home Town!
And neither was our kindly Parson Brown;
They shocked the congregation when they tied the knot in My Home Town!
Original Lyrics:
That fellow was no fool... ...Parson Brown;
[Lehrer left this line blank 'for several reasons']
In My Home Town!
[Lehrer left this line blank 'for several reasons']
In My Home Town!
Submitted by: Doug Montgomery
Funny Lyrics:
"Wernher Von Braun"
The Funny Lyrics: "Vunce the rockets are up, who cares vere they come down,
That's not my department," says Wernher Von Braun. Why They're Funny: Wernher Von Braun was the engineer of the rockets during the Space Race. He also engineered the V2 rocket for the Nazis during WWII, and his ties to Nazism were always a major issue. This line illustrates that clearly
Submitted by: Hurristat
| "New Math"
The Funny Lyrics: And so you have thirteen tens
and you take away seven and that leaves five. ...well... six, actually... but the idea is the important thing. Why They're Funny: Tom Lehrer is a math professor. :)
Submitted by: BECKER
|
| There are additional Funny lyrics available. | |
Insincere Lyrics:
"She's My Girl"
The Insincere Lyrics: The girl I gave up Lent for...
Is the girl that Heaven meant for me... So though for breakfast she makes coffee that tastes like shampoo, I come home for dinner and get peanut-butter stew! Or if I'm in luck, it's Broiled Hockey Puck! But oh well, what the hell, She's My Girl...and I love her! Why They're Insincere: We can see that, Mr. Lehrer. You give up your religion for a girl who cooks unpalatable food for you--and you love her! And just how do you know what shampoo tastes like? Have you been drinking shampoo?
Submitted by: Doug Montgomery
|
Misrhymed Lyrics:
"Smut"
The Misrhymed Lyrics: Stories of tortures
Used by debauchers Why They're Misrhymed: This is literally the only set of lines in any of Mr. Lehrer's songs which is supposed to rhyme but doesn't. Really, it is.
Submitted by: Estelendur
| "Oedipus Rex"
The Misrhymed Lyrics: And you may end up like Oedipus
I'd rather marry a duck-billed pledipus Why They're Misrhymed: Okay, this isn't really misrhymed. Tom Lehrer does a wonderful job coming up with very creative ways to rhyme. I merely wanted to say that I, and, I'm sure, other people, would be much happier if people who cannot say anything better than 'It doesn't rhyme' and variations on such would say nothing at all. As Tom Lehrer said, 'I feel that if a person can't communicate, the least he can do is to shut up'.
Submitted by: Estelendur
|
| There are additional misrhymed lyrics available. | |
Insulting Lyrics:
"Werner von Braun"
The Insulting Lyrics: Gather 'round while I sing you of Werner von Braun
A man whose allegiance is ruled by expedience (Later in the song...) Don't say that he's hypocritical Say rather that he's... apolitical. Why They're Insulting: This satirical song was meant to bring light to the ironic fact that the primary rocket science advisor to the U.S. during the space race had also orchestrated the bombings of London by Nazi Germany during WWII. Here, Mr. Lehrer is basically accusing von Braun of being a fickle opportunist... only he makes it sound flattering.
Submitted by: Raphael
|
Dated Lyrics:
"George Murphy"
The Dated Lyrics: Think of all the musicals we have in store
Imagine 'Broadway Melody of 1984!' Why They're Dated: 1984 has now come and gone, and it is interesting to note that in 1984, movie musicals were in steep decline, part of a trend that begin around the time that this song was written. But then again, this line was probably meant to be ironic, as this song was also written 25 years after the last 'Broadway Melody' movie was even made.
Submitted by: Raphael
| "George Murphy"
The Dated Lyrics: Hollywood's often tried to mix
Show business with politics. From Helen Gahagan To Ronald Reagan? But Mr. Murphy is the star Who's done the best, so far. Why They're Dated: When this song was written, former musical actor George Murphy had been just been elected to what would prove to be his only term in the U.S. Senate and Ronald Reagan was still remembered for his film career and was just beginning to climb the political ladder. It was 15 years before Reagan was elected to the first of his two terms as President of the U.S., surpassing Mr. Murphy's record for the highest-achieving ex-movie star politician.
Submitted by: Raphael
|
| There are additional dated lyrics available. | |
