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 Tomfoolery, 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 classics: 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

A musical revue based on the songs of American satirist Tom Lehrer. The revue features 28 of Lehrer's satirical songs that were written in the 1950s and 1960s. Stage directions suggest each actor use their own name and wait onstage in a bar area while the others perform.

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 Tomfoolery, 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 classics: 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

This Expanded Edition features even more insights on “Weird Al” Yankovic, including his activities during a tumultuous 2020 and 2021, diving deeper into the world of the iconic man who has made a career out of making us laugh. Funny music is often dismissed as light and irrelevant, but Yankovic’s fourteen successful studio albums prove there is more going on than comedic music's reputation suggests. Lily Hirsch weaves together original interviews with the prince of parody himself, creating a fresh take on comedy and music’s complicated romance. She reveals that Yankovic’s jests have always had a deeper meaning, addressing such topics as bullying, celebrity, and racial and gender stereotypes. The Expanded Edition celebrates Yankovic’s vast influence on musicians, comedians, and performing artists as well as what the man has meant to fans—in a time of uncertainty, Yankovic has served as a much-needed bright spot for many. From his love of accordions and Hawaiian print shirts to his popular puns and trademark dance moves, Weird Al is undeterred by those who say funny music is nothing but a low-brow pastime. And thank goodness. With his good-guy grace still intact, Yankovic remains unapologetically and unmistakably himself. Reveling in the mischief and wisdom of Yankovic’s over forty-year career, this book is an Al-expense-paid tour of a true comedic and musical genius.

From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, finance, mythology, the arts, medicine, and more, as told by the Periodic Table. Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters? The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time. Though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal that melts at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A classic science prank is to mold gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch guests recoil as their utensils disappear.

A new collection of songs by the American musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician. His pithy and humorous songs often parodied popular musical forms, such as the famous "The Elements". Lehrer's work typically is also noted for its black humor in songs such as "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park". In the 1960s, he produced a number of songs that dealt with social and political issues of the day, particularly when he wrote for the U.S. version of the television show That Was the Week That Was. The popularity of these songs has far outlasted their topical subjects and references. Lehrer quoted a friend's explanation: "Always predict the worst and you'll be hailed as a prophet." In the early 1970s, Lehrer largely retired from public performances to devote his time to teaching mathematics and musical theater history at the University of California, Santa Cruz.