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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Comedy / Politics / Music My Childhood Hero, Tom Lehrer, Donates $1,000 to Darcy Burner

Posted by Goldy on Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 1:45 PM

Well, if I wasn't already a complete and total Darcy Burner partisan, my foray today through the latest campaign finance disclosure filings would've sealed the deal: A $1,000 contribution from satirical songwriter Tom Lehrer, one of the half-dozen or so writers I consider a major influence on my own development as a writer.

Federal Elections Commission

You may remember Lehrer from such classic songs as National Brotherhood Week or The Vatican Rag, or perhaps not remember him from the number of songs he wrote for the children's TV show The Electric Company. Yes, I was one of those geeky kids who collected comedy albums, not popular music, and I still pull Lehrer's albums out occasionally to the utter disinterest of my daughter. Except for Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. She loves that one. Because she's got a wonderfully sick sense of humor like her dad.

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I'm a great fan of Tom Lehrer, but is it particularly wise to print his home address? Yes, it is a public document and he's probably in the phone book (he strikes me as being cool that way), but still if he sees a sudden influx of fan mail from Seattle, he might worry about it.

Posted by Jeff Grubb on July 31, 2012 at 1:51 PM

Lehrer's awesome - he donates to Congressional races all over the country, and has for many years. He's included Darcy on his list of recipients ever since she first started trying to find a race she could win all those years ago. Isn't it kind of well known among the Burner folks like you?

Posted by gloomy gus on July 31, 2012 at 2:02 PM

The Masochism Tango is a guaranteed karaoke hit, if your favorite establishment has it.

Posted by Paul Pearson on July 31, 2012 at 2:14 PM

A major influence on your development as a writer? That stings. Why would you say that about someone you like?

Posted by Reader01 on July 31, 2012 at 2:18 PM

I grew up listening to Tom Lehrer. He did wonders for my vocabulary. Philately and licentious come to mind. Extra points to those who recognize the song! : )

Posted by In2ishn on July 31, 2012 at 2:30 PM

The song of the elements is one of the greatest songs every written, but PPitP tops all of them.

And maybe we'll do in a squirrel or two...

Posted by wisepunk on July 31, 2012 at 2:31 PM

@5, who needs a hobby?

Posted by gloomy gus on July 31, 2012 at 2:34 PM

I thought he was dead.

Posted by stinkbug on July 31, 2012 at 3:08 PM

"re-reading Lady Chatterley"...

Posted by Hyzenthlayk9

on July 31, 2012 at 3:53 PM

OMG thats a flash from my past. I have some old TL lps I need to dig out now. Vatican Rag and New Math were my faves.

Posted by HMRBEAR on July 31, 2012 at 3:53 PM

Luxembourg is next to go,
And (who knows?) maybe Monaco.
We'll try to stay serene and calm
When Alabama gets the bomb.
Who's next?

Posted by Geni on July 31, 2012 at 4:28 PM

I love Tom Lehrer like woah! That is all.

Posted by moosefan on July 31, 2012 at 4:34 PM

smut! give me smut and nothing but! a dirty novel i can't shut! if it's uncut/and unsub-tle.
I've never quibbled
If it was ribald,
I would devour where others merely nibbled.
As the judge remarked the day that he
Acquitted my aunt hortense,
"to be smut
It must be ut-
Terly without redeeming social importance."

Posted by scary tyler moore

on July 31, 2012 at 4:54 PM

... or, the graphic novels I adore, I like them more, if they're hard core....

(Thanks, Goldy. You made my evening, with a quick return to my adolescence. I was very similar to you and to your commenters)

Posted by uubuntu on July 31, 2012 at 6:33 PM

A Slog sing-a-long! I'm so happy! Thanks 7,9,13,14 : )

Posted by In2ishn on July 31, 2012 at 7:09 PM

My daughters developed their sick humor growing up with the Tom Lehrer Songbook (ISBN 0-394-51957-4)...perfect for that Slog sing-a-long (and a way to continue to thank Mr. Lehrer for his twisted humor)
"Blacken my eye, set fire to my tie!"
"Genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!"

Posted by Biologist in the stix on July 31, 2012 at 7:28 PM

He quit doing political satire after Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize--he said he couldn't top that. I thought he was teaching high school math.

Posted by Toe Tag on July 31, 2012 at 8:19 PM

@6: Our church choir sang The Element Song when the pastor was preaching on the first chapter of Genesis. Congregation gave us a standing ovation (and our congregation does not believe in clapping for music that is offered up to the Lord).

Posted by kk in seattle on July 31, 2012 at 8:47 PM

Be Prepared, that's the Boyscouts' marching song
Be Prepared, as in life you march along
Be Prepared to hold your liquor pretty well
And don't write dirty words on walls if you can't spell...
...And if you run across a Girlscout who is similarly inclined
Don't be nervous, don't be flustered, don't be scared
Be Prepared.
Goldy--your daughter's got to like that one!
Thank you for awakening my inner TL groupie (I didn't know he was still alive!). I have all his recordings.
Also love New Math and The Wild West because I grew up in Los Alamos.

Posted by crone on July 31, 2012 at 9:13 PM