Too Many Songs by Tom Lehrer with Not Enough Drawings by Ronald Searle

by Tom Lehrer, Ronald Searle (Illustrator)

The subversive songs of Tom Lehrer, the sardonic piano-wielding fugitive from Harvard, have corrupted generations of Americans since he first began recording and performing in the 1950s. His uniquely depraved wit has been forced again on an unsuspecting public' via Tom Foolery, the stage revue based on his ever-trenchant observation of the American scene. This new songbook, with old favorites unavailable for years as well as never-published songs, is the most comprehensive ever assembled. It contains the words, tunes, piano accompaniments, and guitar chords for these thirty-four

The Irish Ballad
Fight Fiercely, Harvard!
Be Prepared
The Old Dope Peddler
The Wild West Is Where I
Want to Be
I Wanna Go Back to Dixie
Lobachevsky
The Hunting Song
I Hold Your Hand in Mine
My Home Town
L-Y
When You Are Old and Gray
The Wiener Schnitzel Waltz
Poisoning Pigeons in the Park
A Christmas Carol
Bright College Days
In Old Mexico
She's My Girl
The Elements
The Masochism Tango
National Brotherhood Week
MLF Lullaby
The Folk Song Army
Smut
Send the Marines
New Math
Pollution
So Long, Mom
Who's Next?
Wemher Von Braun
We Will All Go Together
When We Go
I Got It from Agnes
Silent E
The Vatican Rag

Genres: Music, Humor, Poetry, Nonfiction, Reference

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Thomas Andrew Lehrer was an American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician, who later taught mathematics and musical theater.

He was best known for the songs that he recorded in the 1950s and 1960 (while also lecturing on mathematics at Harvard among other colleges). Many were satirical, such as "Fight Fiercely, Harvard," a suggested fight song for his alma mater. Some dealt with social issues of the day, such as "Pollution" and "I Wanna Go Back to Dixie" (a highly unflattering view of the South during Integration), while others were offbeat black humor ("Poisoning Pigeons in the Park").

Reviews

[Melki]

Tom Lehrer, a mathematician and satirist whose musical influence peaked in the 1950s and '60s with his topical songs, died on July 26th. He was 97.

As a lonely, nerdy teen, I spent many a happy hour listening to The Dr. Demento Radio Show. Not long after I became a regular listener, I heard the greatest song ever - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. I was astounded! The next day, I just had to tell my dad. He held up one finger in a "wait a minute" gesture, and disappeared into his den. Emerging with a triumphant grin on his face (probably due to the fact that he'd actually been able to find something in there), he handed me two well-worn record albums - Tom Lehrer Revisited and An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer. I couldn't believe it. My dad was already hip to the scene.

I've inflicted this man's music on practically everyone I know. My husband and sons know many of his songs by heart . . . whether they want to or not. The albums are still played. The songs are still sung in the shower where (hopefully) no one can hear me.

Despite his success, Lehrer gave up performing for good in 1967. Instead, he turned his focus to teaching for the remainder of his career, including jobs at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California.

This book includes most of Lehrer's classics, and includes piano accompaniments, and guitar chords for thirty-four songs, plus lyrics only to many more. As the subtitle suggests, there are indeed NOT ENOUGH drawings by Ronald Searle, though the ones that do grace the pages are delightful.




I think Lehrer himself said it best when he summed up his musical career with this line, "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."

If you've never heard any of the man's tunes, check out YouTube:

Poisoning Pigeons in the Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhuML...

The Elements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcS3N...

We'll All Go Together When We Go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIoBr...

[Sarah]

I put the songs in order on my i-device and listened along as I read the music. It was wonderful! If you don't know Tom Lehrer, I highly recommend that you look him up; I know there are plenty of videos on the interwebs. It's amazing (and somewhat sad) that the social and political commentary is still spot on after 50 years...

[Vanessa]

Much love to you, Professor Lehrer. Rest in peace. ❤️

[elstaffe]

The tempo instructions for the songs very much enhanced my experience.

"The Irish Ballad": Authentically
"Be Prepared": Trustworthily, loyally, helpfully, friendlily, etc.
"Fight Fiercely, Harvard": Loyally
"The Old Dope Peddler": Wistfully
"The Wild West Is Where I Want To Be": Westerly
"I Wanna Go Back to Dixie": A little too fast
"The Hunting Song": Blithely
"I Hold Your Hand in Mine": Tenderly
"My Home Town": Nostalgically
"When You Are Old and Gray": Liltingly
"The Wiener Schnitzel Waltz": Mit Schlag
"Poisoning Pigeons in the Park": Vernally
"The Masochism Tango": Painstakingly
"A Christmas Carol": Merrily
"The Elements": As fast as possible
"Bright College Days": Adagio, con brio
"She's My Girl": Torchily
"In Old Mexico": Immoderato
"We Will All Go Together When We Go": Eschatologically
"National Brotherhood Week": Fraternally
"MLF Lullaby": Wiegenliedig [lullabyily]
"The Folk Song Army": Earnestly
"Smut": Pornissimo
"Send the Marines": alla collo di pelle
"Pollution": Calypso
"So Long, Mom (A Song for World War III)": à la Cohan
"Who's Next?": Disarmingly
"Wernher von Braun": Gently
"I Got It from Agnes": Infectiously
"Silent E": With ease
"L-Y": Rapid-L Y
"The Vatican Rag": Ecumenically

[GoodreadsAccount]

Be warned, not all songs are appropriate. But Tom was one of my biggest influences in comedy and I LOVE playing his songs. Poisoning Pigeons, Pollution, The Hunting Song...classics

[Avis Black]

Back in the day when I studied voice I insisted on working up a few of these pieces and drove my voice teacher crazy singing them. Great stuff.

[Susan]

Of course, there's no such thing as too many songs by Tom Lehrer, whose career as an academic (mathematics) has interfered with his genius for satire.

[Oz]

Tom Lehrer never disappoints, and the illustrations suit his tone so well. Will be very happy when I can finally play these up to speed.

[Valerie]

WHere else can you find the periodic table to the tune of "The Modern Major-General"?