Tom Lehrer on public domain (2020):
tomlehrersongs.com/
www.amazon.com/Tom-Lehrer-Col...
Use the above link and get the uninterrupted Lehrer TV-performance and The Tom Lehrer Collection from Amazon.com.
itunes.apple.com/us/artist/to...
Use the above link to buy Tom Lehrer's songs on iTunes.
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This song really is a show off for all Tom Lehrer's talents and it will stay with us as long as multi racial societies exists on this earth. No, as long as there are people on this earth :-) If you visit the channel front page, you can also watch another version of the song with Lehrer's intro.
Yes, Lehrer said "OK" to "The Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel", as long as the performance is not altered and as long as it's free in the KZhead flash video format.
Click on the user name and visit the channel's front page. The channel is Lehrer only. And here is a link to a NEW channel support page:
home.broadpark.no/~emeyn/tl/
© Tom Lehrer
Recording date: September 11th 1967
Format: Ampex Quadruplex PAL 4:3
Status: A very rare recording
Storage: Sony Digital Betacam
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Cassius Clay and Mrs. Wallace are mentioned in this song, but were not mentioned in the original recording. The two people mentioned in the original recording were:
Lena Horne, born 1917, was a mulatto lounge singer, active in the 1960's, who became the first black American movie star when she signed a contract with MGM in 1942. Sheriff Jim Clark of Selma, Alabama, was responsible for several violent arrests of Civil Rights protestors, over the wishes of Selma mayor Joseph Smitherman, who wanted to bring industry to the town, and didn't want the negative publicity that violence would bring.
Production and preservation: The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation - the NRK, Norway. More here:
www.nrk.no/informasjon/about_t...
"and everyone hates the Jews" is such a perfect line and embodies the kind of guy Lehrer is (he's alive as of time of writing). He wrote this song in 1965, with racial tensions high, and the shock of the Holocaust still in fresh memory, and he proves that there is no 'too soon' in comedy. Because Lehrer wasn't insulting those that were suffering, he was satirising what was causing them. And that is what satire is, and should be. Modern 'satire' is just hatred hidden beneath a veneer of comedy. Satire is not hatred, it's taking the piss out of those in power, and the things that are going on.
This. People nowadays think that, as long as their hatred has a punchline it's automatically fine because "It was a joke" and can never be criticized. If a guy from the 50's was making more nuanced satire about bigotry than you are in 2024, maybe you should try to get better at comedy first before telling everyone else that they're wrong for not liking it.
Also, he IS Jewish - if he's saying "even Jews hate the Jews" or if he's saying "everybody hates us" is up to interpretation, but the line does hit differently knowing that
The delivery of the line "And everybody hates the Jews" is so perfect.
+Ben Buckley Productions Luckily he's Jewish. so it makes me less nervous
As the line is delivered, I don't think it's makes a real difference.
@@theanguished1 It is true sadly, everybody dose.
As a Jew, it’s hilarious 🤣🤣🤣
@@littlelamb2112 Yes, it is!
I absolutely love the snark in his voice when he says "It's National everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood week." It cracks me up every time.
He sang this as I was reading ur comment 😅😭😅😭
your comment is literally older than I am lmao.
@@AyumiKishi Congrats on learning about Tom Lehrer at 11 years old, he's a legend
As a Jew, I approve this song and give it the Seal of Jewproval
Ha Ha! That's hilarious.
It's a sad commentary on the times that my quoting this song on KZhead triggered their algorithm and was disappeared.
Couldn't he give himself that?
Same you shmuck
*THE-oh my GOD*
And Tom is still with us at age 87. All right, Tom. Thanks for all the fish.
+Scott Wallace Oh my god he's still alive? Do you know when he was last interviewed? Love to hear his take on Trump...
+KT Kee 7
Thanks. for. that.
He may have dementia at the age he is. Just guessing. Or he may still be sharp and bored.
barbreader You can still contact him and ask him to play for special events.
For those unfamiliar with him, "Cassius Clay" was Muhammad Ali's name before he changed it.
Yeah smart ass???? Who’s Sheriff Clarke???
@@cuchulain1647 imagine replying to a 10 year old comment
@@cuchulain1647 imagine having a pitiiful sense of superiority for knowing some trivia
@@cuchulain1647 that wasn't really a good stoic move, smart ass
@@cheesy7976 Mrs Wallace a vision of Angelia Jolie, and Gary Sisne
One of the most brilliant satirists of the 20th century, and his songs are still just as relevant as we continue into the 21st. He had the gift of delivering devastatingly brutal honesty with wit and charm.
Those of us who truly loathe the Jews express their gratitude for this.
In the words of another great satirist, Stan Freburg: "Let's give in and all do the brotherhood bit Just be sure we don't make a habit of it"
True satire never ages. The more things change, the more they remain the same.
The beauty of the song is that you can plug all sorts of groups into those listed here, but some things never change: "to hate all but the RIGHT folks is an old established rule" -- and "it's fun to eulogize the people you despise -- as long as you don't let them in your school" are two sentiments that are holding strong after all these years.
I’m 85 and saw him perform at Cape Cod many years back. He is the best. Songs still true today .Sherry Starr.
It is 14 years later and all still holds true, but we have now added the trans!
I'm so glad Tom Lehrer's still with us to this day. He's currently 96.
I'm 49, young man, and I've been listening to him for 30 years! If you've just discovered him, now you know how I felt when I first heard him. Welcome aboard!
Thanks-oh my god that comment was posted when I was 8
fadethetrade I thought the same thing, then a lady from NYC who was around 87, told me that back in the late 50's and early 60's a lot of people in audiences were in utter shock at his shows, since there was really no free speech going on in media. I wish they had filmed more of the audience. I'd love to see their faces.
This was actually performed in Europe.
"Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!" There are some moments in comedy which are far more chilling and far more profound than serious works could possibly be. This song reveals so much about the human condition in just a simple punchline.
He put a wail into the word "year".
This man was a time traveler i swear to god
Naw it has just always been that way.
@@whitelabrat half of these lines could have been said at any given point during the last several centuries and still be accurate
@@TheRealEvilkitten3 which is funny because of 2 things. Firstly it shows how true what he is saying is that it still applies to us today, but secondly it shows how silly it is when everyone talks about these things as if they are the end of the world. As if the last 30 generations didn't think the same thing and then go on living just fine. My parents insist the world is gonna end any year now, but their parents insisted the same thing in their lifetimes and their parents before them. Yet here we are.
@@KermitsBadFurDay funny, depressing, indicative of the innate nature of mankind.... take your pick XD
Yeah, hatred just appeared out of nowhere in the 2010's.
This is equally offensive to everybody, therefore, it's funny.
+rwsmith29456 It's not supposed to be offensive, it's making fun of people for hating everyone.
+Jace Fairis I get the joke. This is one my many favorite T.L. songs. I always laugh when he gets to " everyone smile at one anotherhood week" I just meant that he doesn't 'discriminate'.
+Philip Rivers And?
Oh oh, you caught it, it's a sinister Jewish conspiracy. :\
@@jacefairis1289 jace you get the point!
Still relevant.
still still relevant
2020 agreeing with you
It's gotten more relevant chief
even more relevant 2024
It is sad that today, 50 years after this recording, very little has changed...
Yeah...
Also very american
No it's the natural way of things think about it everybody wants world peace take a look at the last two millennium did the world come together no it divided into over a hundred different countries well over a hundred. You can't have war without peace you can't have racism without brotherhoods and sisterhoods you can't have pleasure without pain because pain makes you realize how good life is makes you appreciate when sweet and pleasurable thing happen.
@@nicholaswatson999 "there is no good without bad" is a sufficient argument for, say, someone saying that they'd want to eat their favorite meal every day - or something equally banal like that. but it's not a justification for not seeking to minimize suffering.
2012 problems ain’t nuthin. I mean at least we codified gay and interracial marriage in 2022. Can’t wait to hear how they reinstate voting rights in 2032. lol
A childhood favorite that my mother used to play for me. And now a favorite of my sons. Lehrer's wisdom and humour are timeless and ageless.
My family watched "That Was the Week That Was" (aka: TW3) faithfully, so I was introduced to Mr. Leher's work at an early age. I am hard pressed to name my favorites, but "National Brotherhood Week" is certainly amongst the top contenders.
I'm just impressed that a clearly cynical and sarcastic song managed to make everyone so defencive. Shows you how powerful he is with his words. And I wish I'd been listening to Tom Lehrer to 40 years, coz he's just that awesome, but I'm 18...
I love Tom Lehrer since I was ten years old. Sadly through the years I've lost my records during moving after moving away from my parents. Lord knows what happened to them as it was in the late 1960's.
available on cd/dvd
This man is absolute legend. My biology professor recommended him because I enjoy controversial things
That's one very switched-on biology professor you've got there.
I remember this song as if it were yesterday. I'm an old geezer of 64 and I heard this when it was new. I died laughing then and I am dying now. Going to hear more Tom Lehrer.I was a flamin' liberal then, but was not politically correct. The Vatican Rag is next and Poisoning Pigeons in the Park after that.
I am you, except 11 years younger. It's amazing how Tom Lehrer's obviously dated lyrics sound incredibly timeless.
Have you heard of Bo Burnham
Wish you the best man
"I was a flamin' liberal then, but was not politically correct." My parents raised me correctly too.
Love the wisdom and humor. His songs pop into my head at the oddest moments-kinda like a God thing So---"during National Brotherhood Week------"
Me too.
You're one of the few from what I can tell. Be proud. You probably have an IQ of 110+
Anybody here after racism has become a heavy topic these days this song is not Tom Lehrer sharing racist views but instead him identifying that the world has fallen into a loop of hate.
Same here! Cheers mate.
It’s really a shame that the average person today takes this song as “perpetuating racism”, instead of it’s intended purpose of highlighting the narrow minded idiocy associated with being an actual racist. I think it’s indicative of how truly moronic the average person is today. ( everyone should see the movie “Idiocracy” BRAWNDO!!!! )
I've always thought it was him highlighting the stupidity of things like "National brotherhood WEEK" and (thesedays)RUOK Day ..days when people clap themselves on the back for practising common decency once a year
Anyone who requires this explanation is too dense to believe it
@@neicul09 that’s a good one too
Sums up this week quite perfectly
To show you how effective Nat'l Brotherhood Week was, on the first day of it, Malcom X was assassinated, so that set the tone of it.
It's been 14 years since they published it here and I'm still listening
Tom was a 20th-century treasure - absolutely brilliant.
he's STILL a treasure. 94 years old and kicking. hell, two years ago he donated all his music to public domain. seems to be doing pretty well, even
The funniest part about this song is that it's making fun of the actual national holiday "National Brotherhood Week", which was basically saying "Okay, get along for a week and you can hate each other for the other fifty-one, okay?" It was quickly abandoned.
@Snootwaller - of course Tom Lehrer is Jewish. Isn’t his name a giveaway? He’s also handsome, very clever and a great songwriter, composer and performer! He’s also a very dear friend of mine and I really loved the time he spent sharing our home with my husband, myself and our 2 little sons. Sadly, the little boys are now grown men, which makes me feel very old, and my lovely husband, Michael, who became a close friend of Tom, died very recently - leaving me a lonely English widow. Still, I’m sure Tom misses Michael as much as I do. I also miss the beautiful sounds filtering up from our spare room where Tom had taken up residence and we could hear his wonderful piano playing throughout the house! What a joyful experience!
Finding this stash of songs is like a finding a gold mine to me. I've had these songs imprinted on my brain since I was but a wee boy... Hell, I didn't even understand what made them funny, but I loved them anyway. Later, I came to realize later how pointed these were for the times. To finally see the man himself perform them is a dream come true. Thanks, 6funswede, for posting these. You made my year.
My 8th grade math teacher would play Tom Lehrer songs as a reward to the class after our weekly tests (this was in 1963-64.) I think the teacher had taken some classes from Tom at some point.
Tom Lehrer is amazing! I grew up listening to my grandfather's collections of his songs. It is great to see this video here!
This aged incredibly well.
Tom Lehrer was born in 1928. He is still alive as of now (December 2020)!
I hope he is healthy and happy. I still love his songs so much!
Aside from this one, my faves are 'The Elements' and 'The Masochism Tango.' I was introduced to Tom Leher by Dr. Demento in in the early '70s.
Gotta Love the Dr.
I've been listening to this cat since '74 when I was 15
Wish I could talk to him... He is a great guy. I always enjoy his songs, he was way ahead of his time back in the day.
"Be grateful that it doesn't last all yearrr!" ROFL
Love that
Oh to live in the world where we get a break from National Brotherhood for a week...
reminds of the 60's...I still have this album..one of the decades best.
This is from Tom Lehrer's THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS album,recorded in July 1965 and released on the Reprise Records label. RS 6179(stereo) and R 6179(mono).
My parents were blessed to have him in their young adulthood and shared him with us.
I hate being redundant, but, like the other commenters, I've been listening to Tom Lehrer for some 40 years. What a fantastic kink-in-the-pants it is to FINALLY get to see him on video for the first time! Can't thank you enough, 6funswede!!
@lskarin Agreed, celebrity references are always going to date a song but if you replaced the names it could still work: like if you want to address a famous public rivalry of a few years ago, you could replace "Lena Horne" with "Rosie O'Donnell" or "Whoopie Goldberg" and "Sheriff Clark" with "Donald Trump" or "Bill O'Reilly." Lehrer did the same thing with the Pollution Song by coming up with LA/San Jose and Troy/Perth Amboy as possible replacements. The message still works.
Wow I'm so glad I found these vids. I first heard Tom Lehrer in a science class when the Elements song was played in one of those dire instructional meant to be educational videos. I didn't learn any chemistry but I was so impressed with the song I looked him up and bought a cd. I ended up liking him so much I bought some more and now I'm hooked lol. Thanks for posting these!
I always loved these songs. My mom loved them and played them when I was younger. I would always laugh and I never forgot them. I am so glad to find them on the You Tub.
I've always loved Tom Lehrer (since the 60's), and I love you for uploading this!
The “be grateful that it doesn’t last all year” aged well
was this guy like the bo burnham of the 60's? I love it!
Went to put this in my favorites. Already there. Good job, self.
Thanks! I grew up listening to Tom Lehrer but never got to see him in action! Love that guy. The Vatican Rag's another one of my favorites.
He makes history pretty easy and uncomplicated, I demand that this should be shown at all schools!
On vinyl, it's "Lena Horne and Sheriff Clark are dancing cheek to cheek." Which is why, for some odd reason, I came here to say...RIP Lena Horne.
In the original version on the record he said it was 'Lena Horne and Sheriff Clarke are dancing cheek-to-cheek'. I'd love to know the back-story on that pairing.
*It's like Bo Burnham except not*
Brutus Mars Except better
@@jorkkeker8097 *Except also good.
Bo expept 57'
Me too... about 3 decades of enjoying Tom Lehrer. I used to have all of his LPs.
Someone ought to bring this back.
Someone did. It's called the video you just watched.
whats great is that he knows the dangerous topic of which he speaks and though some are offended i think hes brilliant
@lsloan0000, I am a 56 year old Norwegian and I have never bought anything on Amazon.com. The posting of the link is because I am a total Tom Lehrer fan, and I know that his stuff is best preserved if people buy that Norwegian TV-concert on a DVD :-) It is also a cheap way to take care of an important part of the American history of comedy.
That was simply brilliant. Thanks for posting it.
Genius. Bless you for posting these.
Lehrer's intelligence and wit shines clearly in this little gem. There's also something ridiculously adorable about the way he makes a mock serious face and purses his lips as he sings.
What a genius... I don't understand every single phrase (English is my secondary language as well) but it's quite amusing... Thoughtful, ironic... I really like it.
is it not fascinating that 53 years later we are able to see this performance
@spinynorman230, yes they did. The trouble is that Tom Lehrer was never invited to play a whole concert on American TV and that many recordings made on two-inch videotape were deleted in the United States. A reviewer wrote that -- because the laughter is mostly absent -- the concert is almost like a studio recording. The best thing is of course that one of Lehrer's last paid appearances was captured to video.
Thanks a lot for posting this.
Im addicted to Tom Lehrer's singing :)
I always wondered what Mr. Lehrer looked like. Thanks for uploading these!
Written for the long ago tv show, "That was the week that was" The original intro was;"One first day of National Brotherhood Week Malcom X was assassinated, starting the week off with a bang!" Dale
There's a recording from the Student Society in Trondheim, Norway where he actually said it slightly different: "Malcolm X was killed, which shows how much of a success it was". Hilariously sarcastic in both versions. I believe he quit the song and dance number because all his most sarcastic prophecies were becoming true.
Thank you so much for watching Tom Lehrer. This summer, the BBC in London bought out some of the songs from this rare recording with Lehrer's approval, because the "beeb's" own Lehrer recordings are lost. Watch out for Lehrer on TV in the UK :-)
I am glad that you share it. Besides, Norway is beautiful, if I may say so... been there decades ago and loved it.
i love this song
Wisdom and wit are immortal.
My all time favourite ;-)
Still as true today (2021) as it was then, Tom. Glad you're alive, hope you're doing well.
I'm listening to this because it's National Friendship Week. :^)
favorite song from Tom :)
Thank you Tom Lehrer! You must have put a lot of effort into what you made, and BTW Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite guy forever and ever! Imagine doing this song today? IMPOSSIBLE, right?
Man, he’s so, so good.
Thank you!
this is brilliant!
Now that's satire.
Thank you! Thank You!!
There are so many reasons why this is pure genius.
thank you
Awesome ... interesting variation in the lyrics vs. the album version early on. "Cassius Clay and Mrs. Wallace" instead of "Lena Horne and Sheriff Clark".
This video is now out on DVD. Please read the updated video description or visit the channel page!
This gentleman is a legend!
Wow! Goes to show that a lot people cannot change.
Thank you Pandora!
Back in the fifties, we all memorized Tom Lehrer's songs from his records. He's still pertinent, isn't he?
Timeless
lehrer you legend!
BRILLIANT
I found this song on the Bill Handel Show. Now that I've heard the whole song, I like it even more
On another note. I LOVE Tom Lehrer. He makes such great points with his satire. If only we could all be as wise as him. Maybe we'd all finally be able to get along.
BRILLIANT song. Great guy, Tom Lehrer.