Tom Lehrer
Tom Lehrer
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Lehreris an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician. He has lectured on mathematics and musical theater. He is best known for the pithy, humorous songs he recorded in the 1950s and '60s...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSongwriter
Date of Birth9 April 1928
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
attitudes folk immersed love musical popular songs style time
I was immersed in popular songs of the time, of the '30s and '40s. I was writing songs, making fun of the attitudes of those songs, in the musical style of the songs themselves; love songs, folk songs, marches, football.
cabinet found people picked records
The people who were in college in the '50s were my first real audience, and their kids, the people who found my records in the cabinet during their 'Mad 'magazine years picked me up also.
carried creed ideal logical prohibit
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.
fewest knew studied
I thought about majoring in Math, Chemistry and English, but Math had the fewest requirements, so I went with it. I knew I wanted to teach, and Math was my field, so I studied Math.
audience home literate trying
I always prided myself on at least trying to be literate and use the right words, and if the audience didn't get it, then they could go home and look it up.
certain front
When I was in college, there were certain words you couldn't say in front of a girl. Now you can say them, but you can't say 'girl.'
francisco kids san
San Francisco is a city of twenty-something millionaire white kids named Doug.
whom
I like Jon Stewart. He's not as obnoxious as Dennis Miller, whom I really can't stand.
prophet worst
Always predict the worst, and you'll be hailed as a prophet.
offensive satirical cant
You cant be satirical and not be offensive to somebody.
irreverence easy wit
Irreverence is easy - whats hard is wit.
high loved
I loved high school, but I wouldn't want to do it again.
awarded became henry nobel obsolete peace
Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel peace prize.
food
When you get to fifty-two food becomes more important than sex.