An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer
An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer is an album recorded by Tom Lehrer, the well-known satirist and Harvard lecturer. The recording was made on March 20–21, 1959 in Sanders Theater at Harvard.
An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer
In October 2020, Lehrer transferred the music and lyrics for all songs he had ever written into the public domain.[2][3] In November 2022, he formally relinquished the copyright and performing/recording rights on his songs, making all music and lyrics composed by him free for anyone to use.[4]
Songs' sources[edit]
"Poisoning Pigeons in the Park"[edit]
The lyrics refer to killing pigeons with cyanide-coated peanuts and strychnine-treated corn. The latter method was used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to control pigeon populations in Boston public areas during the 1950s.[6] The pianist hired for an orchestral version of the song, arranged and conducted by Richard Hayman with vocals by Lehrer, fell off his bench when he heard the title.[7]
"Bright College Days"[edit]
This song borrows heavily from "The Whiffenpoof Song", the traditional signature song of the Yale Whiffenpoofs.[8]