Tom Lehrer - The Vatican Rag - fabulous version - LIVE FILM From Copenhagen in 1967

[@carolsloane4720]

It's a long story, but one I cherish: Mr. Lehrer was returning to Cambridge, MA and stopped off at the home of a Duke University faculty member. I was invited to meet him, and sat quietly in awe of the man. I plucked up the courage to ask if he'd sing "The Vatican Rag" before he left. I sat beside him at the piano as he graciously complied with my request. Who can forget that moment?

[@markbreitinger3798]

What an amazing story... standing in the presence of greatness

[@markstein1916]

That must have been a moment for the ages. I am jealous. What a genius he was (and is!)

[@winstonelston5743]

My introduction to his work was "The Elements" om a 45 disc distributed by scientific instruments manufacturer PERKIN-ELMER'. The 'Diatribe on Detection Limits', a commercial message from P-E was almost as funny as the Lehrer song.

[@stdcall]

an excellent story, but it isn't actually very long

[@chloepainter4064]

My dad actually attended the university while Mr. Lehrer taught there, and had heard of him as he was something of a well known character on campus, but didn't know him personally.

[@baseballman4958]

Only man who could make a rhyme with transubstantiate. Beyond epic.

[@CindyBcr]

I was especially impressed with "want, if" with "pontiff."

[@DavidVT23]

@@CindyBcr Every say his own Kyrie eleison

[@gabrote42]

Absolutely. Another great one was in We Will All Go Together When We Go

[@wheedler]

Pretty sure he just rhymed it with 'eight'.

[@gabrote42]

@@wheedler Yeah, but it's usually very hard to find those rhymes, and English has it easier than most! This is one I would not be able to translate into spanish

[@tomcox22]

Can’t fathom how I never heard of guy. After I saw this I watched every one of his videos. Song after song I just sat in stunned silence-his lyrics are brilliant and he is a world class piano player. Unbelievable.

[@dougmontgomery1868]

According to Wikipedia, Lehrer performed this at the old hungry i nightclub in San Francisco once. Ricardo Montalban, the Hispanic actor, was in the audience. He was not amused. After the song was over he hollered at Lehrer, "How dare you make fun of my religion! I love my religion! I will die for my religion!" Lehrer answered, "That's fine with me, as long as you don't do it here."

[@shahancheong9792]

Ouch!! Lehrer BURNZ! Seriously though that's a hilarious comeback. I love it!

[@Charliecomet82]

So, the "fine Corinthian leather" guy didn't like Lehrer?

[@malkies6341]

Lehrer = why u don't mess with Harvard :P

[@darthglobe4285]

Doug Montgomery Ricardo Montablen? That same actor who played Khan in Star Trek?

[@bird10498]

Hey Riccardo, get a grip. People wanting to die for their religion rather than actually practice it is one of the banes of mankind.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

Writer, comic, educator, mathematician, musician, and stellar wit...AND, still alive and well at 95!

[@ericjohnston591]

Ah, I heard he stubbed his toe this morning, so he's in some pain and not well. Just wanted to update your update. Let us know how he is tomorrow.

[@rosemerrynmcmillan1611]

WOW!! HI TOM LEHRER!

[@VerityFraser]

And he made his works public domain! It makes sense at that age, but hardly anyone does it. But now his works can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere, in any way, and no law can stop them.

[@gabrote42]

And he's going for another year still!

[@relic69]

Brilliant

[@GallowglassVT]

As of the writing of this comment, this man has outlived Henry Kissinger, and I just think that's really neat.

[@freedomm]

I wish he'd gloat.

[@MicrowaveOvenVideo]

I refuse to ever let Tom pass on

[@MURDERPILLOW.]

"As of writing this comment" wtf does that mean?

[@GallowglassVT]

@@MURDERPILLOW. that Lehrer isn't dead yet, or rather, he wasn't dead when I wrote the comment?

[@MURDERPILLOW.]

@@GallowglassVT i meant, how can it change that he outlived him?

[@balrogdahomie]

I still can’t get over how good of a rhyme “Everybody say his own/ Kyrie Eleison” is

[@calciumchloride710]

I remember the first time I heard this, thinking "Okay, this'll be a cutesy little effort," but this line smacked me right in the face--both this and the "transubstantiate" lines are indelibly mischevious.

[@eblackadder3]

I'ts great, but I think I prefer "Ave Maria, gee, it's good to see ya".

[@TweEkc]

'guy with religion'll/original' is mine I think

[@G6JPG]

His skill with rhymes is up there with (or better than) Cole Porter. See also "Christmas Carol", "We will all ...", and most of his other works. "Relations, sparing no expense'll\send some useless old utensil"; "When you attend a funeral,\It is sad to think that sooner or l-" ... For similar (and she credits TL as one of her muses), see (some of) the work of Dillie Keane (often found under Fascinating Aida). E. g.. Sequin.

[@JeroIron]

@@TweEkc That's the one that gets me every time.

[@JayReidy]

The first time I heard that song I nearly choked it made me laugh so hard. My nun teachers, however, did not share my enthusiasm.

[@satische9590]

I wonder why. Could it be that these nuns don't realise how open the Jews are to having their faith lampooned by Catholics?

[@kugmath520]

they had to hold it in till they got out of students' earshot

[@davidryder3374]

"Nuns...no sense of humor." -- The Kurgan

[@TheKappybook]

Jay Reidy we laughed our butts off to my moms old records. Good times!

[@terrydactyl4350]

I first heard this song when he was on the Gong Show and dressed up as a priest and three (if I remember correctly) persons dressed as nuns danced to it. I about died laughing, probably because, as a child, I went to a Catholic school up through the 12th grade, and here he was butchering a sacred cow that took over 12 years for the nuns, priests and brothers to create and nurture. That song was pure artistic genius to me.

[@karencilman3002]

"gettin' dramatic and sort of ecstatic an' doin' the Vatican rag." No one before or since has written like that. And, he's a hell of a pianist.

[@danacarpendersketoloworno2043]

He was a brilliant lyricist. The only one I know who equals -- and even surpasses -- him is Stephen Sondheim.

[@qwertyTRiG]

@@danacarpendersketoloworno2043 I think that Tim Minchin can touch this genius at times.

[@ThirrinDiamond]

@@qwertyTRiG his "thank you god" deffo measures up even tho its not fully comparable

[@mhand00]

I came here again after watching Bo Burnham "Welcome to the Internet" (kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWKln5ibf7l3mbc) which reminded me of Tom Lehrer. I used to listen to his records in the sixties and absolutely die laughing.

[@ThirrinDiamond]

@@mhand00 omg its like tom lehrer with 2% of tim burton

[@kraftpr]

First you get down on your knees, Fiddle with your rosaries, Bow your head with great respect, And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect! Do whatever steps you want, if You have cleared them with the Pontiff. Everybody say his own Kyrie eleison, Doin' the Vatican Rag. Get in line in that processional, Step into that small confessional, There, the guy who's got religion'll Tell you if your sin's original. If it is, try playin' it safer, Drink the wine and chew the wafer, Two, four, six, eight, Time to transubstantiate! So get down upon your knees, Fiddle with your rosaries, Bow your head with great respect, And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect! Make a cross on your abdomen, When in Rome do like a Roman, Ave Maria, Gee it's good to see ya, Gettin' ecstatic an' Sorta dramatic an' Doin' the Vatican Rag!

[@kaninma7237]

Úžasné dobře napsané texty!

[@florencerobinson7714]

Yikes..

[@aaadiymail5476]

T Y. I can now Sing Along in my garden as my Papist neighbours hurl abuse and threats of violence at me after exchanging the Kiss of Peace at their gold-encrusted church.

[@adamf663]

@@aaadiymail5476 follow it up with zappa's 'catholic girls' or 'token of my extreme.' from joe's garage.

[@ADVENT_MarkPtak]

Yikes is right...I wouldn't want to be him when being judged on that "chew the wafer" line...

[@theolamp5312]

I went to a Catholic High School, Bishop McDevitt in Wyncote, PA. We were asked to play a song from an album. Vatican Rag was what I brought In and played. No retribution. I have to thank my teacher, Mr. Horn. He was a tough teacher. But, always open minded. He took the class to the Academy of Music to hear Classical music as it should be heard. He is one of the teachers you only truly appreciate after you have left school. Note - I graduated in 1969 - To this day he is still teaching at McDevitt (Pro Bono)because he loves teaching so much.

[@juliemarty37]

I'm so grateful for the enlightened teachers I've had. It's rare when another perdon can wake you up.

[@justsayn6567]

He's not doing it Pro Bono - the gov't can't afford to pay him... Somebody clone this teacher, he is what will save this world.

[@BaarBear]

You were a lucky lad sir if you had a teacher that open minded.

[@oskarhenriksen]

@@stardust86x Is the song critical of anything? It seems like it's only meant as harmless fun

[@jpecci4832]

Same--even the Deacon played this--I went to Cath School --back in the Vatican II days and it was take as hilarious.

[@steeltrap3800]

I grew up with "An Evening (Wasted) with Tom Lehrer" as a child and it's a joy to see this live performance. What a treasure this man is.

[@christopherbrown6538]

+Steeltrap me too and yes it is. :)

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Hi Steeltrap. Tom Lehrer is a musical genius but I wish his recording company hadn’t chosen such an offensive title as “An Evening wasted with Tom Lehrer” for a recent CD. No evening spent listening to Tom’s wonderful music is ever wasted!

[@eshbena]

@@leemumbray-williams2440 Well, it was the title of the album since it was first released in the 1950's and it was Lehrer's own choice. :)

[@garylobo348]

@@leemumbray-williams2440 Actually he himself named the album. He had no trouble at all laughing at himself, and he knew his songs would only appeal to a relatively small group of contrarians, like you and me!

[@vvanderer]

He brought down on himself some very weak and watery cancel culture

[@annegreaves5219]

A fantastic pianist on top of everything else. Brilliant man.

[@kaari2271]

I’ve listened to this song scores of times and it wasn’t until seeing this video that I realized he says “ferment” in his intro rather than “foment.” His songs and intros are laced with those little jokes and it’s always a kick to discover a new one. Thanks to you for your terrific job documenting Lehrer’s works-truly a labor of love and respect.

[@CaptainCramer6]

"Ave Maria... Jee it's good to see ya!" One of my personal favourites!

[@kioku119]

I personally like "Two, four, six, eight, Time to transubstantiate!"

[@winstonelston5743]

@@kioku119 "...There the guy who's got religion'll Tell you if your sin's original....."

[@miraclebaba9087]

I also went to a Catholic high school, we had a tradition of the 100-days(pre-graduation)-dinner, where seniors were treated to a dinner with the entire faculty. We were treated, as part of the entertainment, to a rousing rendition of this song by the Pontificial North American College seminarians who taught religion at our school. We were taught to consider the Almighty's sense of humor. Love Lehrer and still love all my teachers.

[@yvonnehall7568]

My best friend in high school, Kathy and I danced and sang this at the old folks home across the street from our Catholic high school as part of our "good works". We had nun habits and rosaries which we later threw off and had flapper costumes underneath. An old lady there named Birdie was a jazz pianist who was able to play it after hearing only once. This was a hit with the old folks there.

[@randilevson9547]

Subversiveness lives!! Good for you! Glad your efforts were appreciated, and supported by your audience. Any religious faith that can poke fun at itself, will thrive.

[@davidbrandel1311]

I first heard this in 1969 when I was 13 years old and laughed so hard my stomach hurt. The part that really got me was “genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!” Having attended Catholic school, and after hearing this, Tom Lehrer was my new hero.

[@vilstef6988]

One of my favorite songs by Tom! In the days before Vatican II, my Father went to Mass with a Catholic friend. Afterward, the man said to my Dad: "Father was certainly wound up when he did his homily today, I wonder what he said." (Dad graduated high school in 1931 and had taken Latin.) He said to his friend, "I can tell you but you aren't going to like it." "C'mon, what did he say?" "That offerings have been light and you cheap bastards should dig deeper." Dad did not lose the friend over this.

[@SDW90808]

Best comment ever! Going to sleep now. Thanks for making my day!!

[@ElVaquero19]

I am a convert to Catholicism and I love this song, especially the "genuflect, genuflect, genuflect" 😂

[@ericjohnston591]

Who the hell converts to Catholicism? Lmao 😂

[@valurimist9861]

@@ericjohnston591Many people do, what do you mean

[@wheedler]

@@valurimist9861 Masochists (assuming I can assume the content of the comment)

[@chrismanuel9768]

So sad that you've decided to throw your life away. That's not a jab, either, it really is sad to know you've chosen to give up your basic human freedom for religious dogma. I wish you well and hope you recover

[@eancola6111]

@@chrismanuel9768And I hope you find God.

[@tedlassenpiano5771]

Thank God for KZbin, so I can watch this again and again and again.

[@karencilman3002]

An inimitable combination of writing talent, performing acumen, and good looks.

[@isaochy4197]

And intelligence of course

[@ebthedoc4992]

Best stand-up comedian, humorous poet, fizzing with ideas, ever, and noted mathematician, and teacher, as well (still prowling the halls of the library at Santa Cruz, where he's retired, last I heard.) And this song proves his versatility as a musician: wonderful ragtime, in addition to tango (Pollution), balladry (Rickety-Tickety-Tin), lilting chanson (Poisoning Pigeons), etc. Superlative pianist and singer!

[@G6JPG]

I would call him a sit-down comedian. His humour is so much more apparently gentle than most stand-ups. (Note I said _apparently_ . It's delightfully vicious really, just not in-your-face!)

[@G6JPG]

As for "Pigeons", I heard that, for the orchestral recording, the sheet music was only handed out shortly before the recording (presumably with no title or just Pigeons or similar0, and there were comments along the lines of "what a charming little waltz"; when someone tapped and said "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, take 1", there were some jaws dropped!

[@gabrote42]

As an argentinian I must say The Masochism Tango is one of the catchiest this side of El Choclo, even if some of my compatriots would hesitate to call it tango

[@adamgorelick3714]

Tom Lehrer was brilliant and remains a treasure. I grew up with parents who had an abiding appreciation of Lehrer - a childhood favourite was Poisoning The Pigeons In The Park. Though it's unsettling to consider that today he would probably be shadow banned. "He's being critical of Operation Paperclip !" { Werner Von Braun} "He's demeaning Catholics !"

[@qwmx]

People mock catholics all the time.

[@wheedler]

Today he would be Neil Cicierega.

[@alidabaxter5849]

It was about time somebody criticised Werner von Braun! Apart from the bombs dropped on England, that man worked people to death in order to develop those bombs. What an absolutely adorable human being.

[@B501M]

Thank God to whoever filmed his times in Copenhagen

[@rocioaguilera7255]

I adore this sarcastic genius. Amazing

[@gonzoraoul]

@INTERNETWORK Agree 100%

[@peacefulleopard8016]

Oh 100%

[@JosephHayes-kk8nb]

I heard this song when I was 10 or 11 on the Dr. Demento radio show. Being catholic it was of course the funniest thing I have ever heard. I had only heard it once and I remembered it long enough to find it again in the early internet era. It still is the funniest clean bit I have ever heard

[@CraigFarangBa]

I love Tom Lehrer's songs, but this one is sheeer genius -- his masterpiece.

[@GlobalGeorgeIR]

My parents are very devout roman catholics who live north of Rome, my father absolutely loves this.

[@KidIndigo1]

I love Tom Lehrer's gifts to us all. I'm glad to know the tradition lives on. Thanks Tom, and thanks Randy!

[@jetfire851]

The new pope seems like a hip guy. Can we get him to sing a rendition of this?

[@finnflaherty8704]

Unfortunately, he has a missing lung, so he can't even sing for religious events. I'm pretty sure this wouldn't be his top priority.

[@EyeOfEld]

Edit 9/13/24: the following comment does not represent my current views. I am no longer Catholic. @115011797097406429393 Of course he hasn't changed dogma. Dogma is literally unchangeable. That's why it's dogma. -A Roman Catholic

[@SpacemonkeyDurden]

+EyeOfEld Dogma can be changed. Religion, however, refuses to be changed, which is why it's dying out, and the number of atheists and irreligious folk are increasing. We are a progressive race, so when our ideas cannot progress with us, we abandon them.

[@EyeOfEld]

Edgar Vilhelm You seem to be mistaken. Dogma is literally the unchangeable beliefs of the Catholic Church laid out long ago by men far wiser than you or I. Tradition can be changed, but it is mostly concerned with exact rituals and extra folklore of the church. But Dogma, the commandments of God, the things Catholics must believe in to be Catholic, has not changed since the birth of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

[@SpacemonkeyDurden]

EyeOfEld Dogma simply means a set of strong beliefs, and is a part of all religions, not just Catholicism or Christianity. The beliefs of the Catholic church were not laid out by men far wiser than us. The bible itself is full of contradictions, provably false statements, and questionable morals, and it has changed over time. The bible has been rewritten and translated throughout its existence, and some laws have changed due to mistakes in translation. But even if the Bible is unchanging, the practices of the Church are. Holidays such as Christmas and Easter are of Pagan origin, but were adopted by Christianity. As well, the Bible advocates the stoning of adulterers, homosexuals, and nonbelievers, but the modern day Church has never come out in favor of stoning individuals (at least, explicitly). There are laws in the Bible which also say a woman must marry her rapist, and a wife can be taken by an enemy soldier if her husband is killed in battle, but I'm sure the Church doesn't condone that.

[@jessicaoctostar9730]

Not long someone in this facebook group I'm in asked the group "is there any singer who you fell in love with the first time you heard them?". I said Tom Lehrer

[@AnandaGarden]

First time I had a meeting with my spiritual teacher I walked over the hill to his place in the company of a couple of nuns. I was very nervous about meeting the great man. I thought, "Gosh, it's like going to meet the Pope or something." When we got to his house we heard music playaing very loudly interspersed with equally loud guffaws. Yup, it was the teacher, playing the Vatican Rag. My mouth was so far open, you could have parked a battleship inside it. I knew the teacher for 37 years, and not once did he ever hold out the expectation that we should hold him in any particular reverence. Of course, we did, but because he was completely dedicated to helping others.

[@hipocampelofantocame]

I grew up with Tom Lehrer's music in the early fifties, and it's so great to hear these songs again after all of these years.

[@stevenmeyer9674]

you mean the 60's, don't you?

[@hipocampelofantocame]

@@stevenmeyer9674 : You are completely correct. I'm 88, so I often mess up on times.

[@annabratton5323]

A few years ago my older sister showed me this video and I thought it was funny, but now as someone who attends a Lutheran university (I did not grow up Lutheran or Catholic) and is taking a class on Luther, it’s even funnier. Just the other day I learned what Genuflect and transubstantiation were and I immediately looked this song up again and was practically on the floor laughing. I sent it to my professor and he said he will definitely be using it in future classes.

[@MexicoDigDoctor]

I am going to need to look up on Wikipedia when this song was made. I was born in 1958, and was raised Baptist first by a great grandmother, but then when my other grandmother had me, I was raised Catholic. I was kind of a weirdo because I could speak at the age of one. I mean literally speak like an adult. Whenever this song came out, I remembered it so well and loved it so much and thought it was so funny. My mom had an album, and I just couldn’t get enough of it. When I was especially young, the mass was still in Latin, so it made it even more fun to hear about things we did at the church, especially when it was in a different language and I was so small I didn’t really understand most of what was going on. Bless this man, I know God can take a joke!

[@wheedler]

Like Stewie Griffin?

[@MexicoDigDoctor]

@@wheedlerI sort of know who you are talking about, but I live in Mexico and have only seen it once or twice. But….yes! 😂

[@julietdiparigi534]

OMG so bloody brilliant, and even more topical today! Loved Tom during university days. So timeless. Tell you if your sins are original, genuflect genuflect genuflect. Rolling around in hilarity. And there I was looking for poisoning pigeons in the park.... I forgot this one.

[@coolgrama6139]

As brilliant as when I saw him in grad school over 45 years ago! Now I'm showing him to my older grandchildren and the love him.

[@artstrutzenberg7197]

My grandmother introduced me to him when I was in my late teens :D....Now that I have kids, they both know who he is....

[@BikiniDeathSquad]

genuflect genuflect genuflect

[@P00katube]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

What a joy to be able to watch my dear friend Tom Lehrer performing on KZbin. I watch him on my iPad every day an the performance of The Vatican Rag which I’m watching now is a particular favourite of mine.

[@reneelaventure7925]

This guy is FANTASTIC... everything he does is pure genius. total and compete genius. I'm stunned. - If you're reading this and you haven't yet seen the Element song, you should really do it NOW. (- are you living in a cave? no really, I'd like to know!) Thanks everyone viewing this for adding more positive energy to the universe. ;)

[@angelas4398]

My parents had the Tom Lehrer LP “That Was The Year That Was” that was like a Tom Lehrer greatest hits. My parents were liberal Catholics, so not shocked by this song. In addition to everything else great about it (piano playing, rag time, lyrics) he displays incredible knowledge of Catholic dogma - transubstantiation is a pretty arcane bit of Catholic beliefs. This is still as hilarious the first time I heard it.

[@megindenver]

Ive still got my copy of that record. A true gem!

[@reneelaventure7925]

Fun fact: for anyone who doesn't know German, 'Lehrer' means male teacher.

[@omrabj]

And "Laventure" means "the adventure" in French ... coincidence? I think not.

[@Mad4MM]

Perfect!

[@rowanaboat4523]

Nominative determinism at play there.

[@annbush1826]

Thank you I’m glad to have one more bit to add to the delight that is Tom Lehrer.

[@DrMattFen]

That's helerr interesting!

[@tjeff51]

I don't know how I found it but I bought a box set of all his music about twenty years ago for my dad. The first thing I did was ut it on my computer. My dad played his records when we were kids. What a way to grow up.

[@carolinewookey7610]

I knew all the words then i was 8, as it was my dad's fave album. got in such trouble at school!

[@janethalken8269]

us too ! back when the only youtube was when adults brought comedy records home, and every so often you could sneak out of your room and listen...

[@rickolsonmusic]

Tom Lehrer was one of my favorites in the early seventies when I was around 8 or 9 years old. My mom had known him at Harvard. She wrote him saying her kids would like to meet him when we visit Boston, but she didn’t hear back from him.

[@TheArgiShow]

I so wishi could've met a person man like Mr Leher, he is an amazing artist/comic!

[@mygoddess1]

MY OH MY ! thanx for posting...my lucky day!!! I had a dear friend( r.i.p. )who used preform this & these type of songs...THANX MUCHO : ) for the awesome ole memories :)

[@tracykash1014]

So phenomenally brilliant and talented!!!!

[@johnmeyer77]

This same year as this was filmed, 1967, our geometry teacher at Oak Park High School, Mr. Gaynor, closed the door to the room just after the bell, pulled down the shade on the window to the hallway, pulled out a little portable record player, put the new Tom Lehrer album on the turntable, and played "Vatican Rag." As it played, he laughed hysterically, but this was a public high school, and only about 20% of the class (if that) were Catholic. As a result, the rest of us had almost no clue about the references and therefore thought our teacher, who was a little odd, had now totally lost it. Fifty years later, I'm still not Catholic, but I now get it, completely. Mr. Gaynor, I apologize for ever thinking your were nuts. In fact, both you and Tom Lehrer were geniuses.

[@chuckcap6878]

I had a surveying technology teacher at the TVI in Albuquerque. He brought in the album or CD. Back in 1988. This is only 2nd time hearing it..all I remembered was genuflect./. ./. ./.

[@CaptainCramer6]

"Ave Maria, JEE IT'S GOOD TO SEE YA!!" Truly hilarious, cracks me up every time!

[@aiercooledengine]

Thank you for writing this particular song. When I was six years old I attended my first Roman Catholic Mass in Latin, I had no idea what to do so I just copied what I saw those around me doing. Again thank you.

[@annbush1826]

Still spectacular. I was Catholc --=imagine the shock! Now I'm 97.and think he was the most brilliant mind of the 20th century..

[@roberthill799]

Not "was", " is". Tom is still kicking at the age of 97.

[@avalon16]

I totally agree. I love him.❤

[@garymarquart4822]

At least one reviewer has mentioned that Lehrer created to cleverest rhymes of any writer. There are at least four of them in this one song. My favorite is "There the guy who's got religion'll/Will tell you if your sin's original."

[@MURDERPILLOW.]

Funeral with "sooner or l-" is good

[@TheXLCHKid]

I first heard of tom in '53, and he was already popular with the college lads. The fact that his songs are still popular today testify to his intelligent lyrics. He picked up on the political tensions decades ago that are relevant even today. No longer in print, his box set "The Remains of Tom Lehrer" is a treasure, IF you can obtain one, and contains several versions of his songs, some with orchestral backing, etc. They did change a bit over time.

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

I’ve finally got my new CD player to work so I have the enormous joy of sitting in bed listening to my embarrassingly huge collection of Tom Lehrer CDs! Always love your music, Tom! Currently listening to the CD of songs from TW3 which are wonderfully funny!

[@davekenney1874]

I think God stuck around for the second set of Toms performance, my wife went to Catholic schools and she howled when she heard this. Pope Tom forever

[@lisanidog8178]

Dad had an album of Tom and he played it a lot. I was just a toddler so didn't understand a lot of the records played like Camelot or Music Man but dad would play Tom and this was one of the songs. My parents got me and my brother used to their records even at our bed time so I'd fall asleep listening. Hard to fall asleep when dad would burst into laughter you could hear all over the house.

[@2345allthebest]

Dr. Demento ... 94.7 KMET... Every Sunday night...this was always in the top 10...1970s

[@samiam619]

Little bit of Heaven, 94.7, KMET!

[@garylobo348]

You know he was so brilliant that he could've been a super songwriter, a la Neil Diamond or Billy Joel. If you notice almost all his songs were original compositions, except for The Elements, and were based on the popular styles of music of the day. Ballads, Marches, Ragtime as depicted here, lullabies, love songs. The man could do it all.

[@JulieCollins1]

Could've been?! He was!

[@azoth6337]

Tom Lehrer is fantastic! Hard hitting satire and a very good piano player.

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Loved watching my dear friend Tom Lehrer singing and playing this! It was a great pleasure to bump into you in the local shopping centre this week, Tom. Just wish I saw you more often!

[@whhrms]

I can certainly understand his looking at the keys more than usual in this number. I once did a transcription of his piano part... and it's a real "beast" - particularly if you're trying to concentrate on singing and playing at the same time.

[@rachelshaskin2584]

Am I crazy for finding young Tom Lehrer attractive?

[@lyadmilo]

+Rachel Shaskin No.

[@ezralegum6236]

he's got those golden check bones, a glistening butt chin, and short curly hair. he's perfect

[@vulpesinculta3238]

With a name like that, you seem Jewish. Like attracts like, and Lehrer is a Jew.

[@rachelshaskin2584]

+Vulpes Inculta I'm pretty sure I wouldn't care if a guy was Jewish (unless he was unreasonably devout) Also, on my father's side i'm descended from Ukrainians who were Greek Orthodox.

[@BabyFawnLegs]

I think he's cute too.

[@LadyhawksLairDotCom]

How did I not know who this guy was??? He's fucking awesome!

[@DieFlabbergast]

+Ladyhawk Feathers-in-her-Hair Er... let's see ... you grew up in a cave in the mountains? You've only just arrived on Earth from elsewhere? I give up ... why didn't you know about the greatest musical humorist of all time?

[@digitalvideoguys]

+Ladyhawk Feathers-in-her-Hair Don't feel bad, I just found him myself a few months ago when my daughter's choir did Hanukkah in Santa Monica. He's an amazing talent.

[@lunealexandre6788]

+DieFlabbergast I never heard of him until a year ago, where I discovered him pretty randomly, and neither my family nor any of my friends know who he is.

[@lawrencebrady1097]

Well, if you're younger than a certain age you wouldn't have been around, or old enough, to hear him. His popularity now is spreading like his early popularity -- word of mouth from friend to friend. A similar musician is Mark Russell. You can find his works here on KZbin, too. A great political satirist!

[@qwertyTRiG]

Lawrence Brady Tom Lehrer is associated in my mind with Tim Minchin. I'd not heard of Mark Russell. Shall look him up.

[@2012Ursula]

Thanks for these Copenhagen recordings by the incomparable T.L. I'm so grateful to have been an adolescent Lehrer nerd, as were our two girls. (Must be a genetic thing: "Vatican Rag" used to make my late father fall off the sofa from laughing.)

[@oppieoops]

This version includes the fabulous ragtime interlude that wasn't in the Oslo version. I wish the cameraman would've filmed his hands on the piano keys. Thanks for posting.

[@dougmontgomery1868]

In December 1967 I told a girl I knew in high school--we graduated that June---about "The Vatican Rag." She laughed. She was (and perhaps still is) Catholic.

[@haslundk]

Doug Montgomery k

[@timmy-the-ute2725]

I'm Catholic and this song is hilarious.

[@maiaadolphs9128]

my church drama club sang this. Our pastor, Fr. E.J. who is like 75, dressed as a nun!

[@BuzzLOLOL]

That's the kind of perversion we don't need...

[@bookwoman53]

I don’t think our Father Kevin would go for it.

[@RibqahRomanaSciarrone]

😂

[@ulture]

@@BuzzLOLOL it's clearly a bit of harmless fun. Especially compared to what the other priests are getting up to with their altar boys.

[@kaninma7237]

Dobrá hudba .... veselá a bystrá píseň ... díky za sdílení

[@lilaccatholic]

I'm a student of Catholic theology and this is one of my favorites!

[@gamer9720]

2:23 The smile of a guy who knows he killed it.

[@WayneMacDonaldBoston]

I grew up listening to my father's Tom Lehrer Albums. I inherited my dad's dry wit. I grew up in a musical family as well. My dad sang Barbershop Quartet and mom was a Sweet Adeline. Tom was a pure satirical giant in his time, and his songs are just as funny and relevant today as they were in the 60's

[@mytexasdays1526]

Perfect line dance in the line to the confessional or communion.

[@henrylee1214]

There was a song, "Giovanni Battista Montini, the Pope" recorded in the WBAI, New York studios in the late 60's. Larry Josephson played it on his morning program a number of times but apparently there's no recording available out there. Very similar to "The Vatican Rag" in its humorous content..

[@JayDS509]

Just brilliant on so many levels! Sooooo good...

[@luciusmichael]

Brilliance...

[@annakimborahpa]

Thanks, Tom, for mentioning transubstantiation. Sadly for me, I can't recall the last time I heard this term in church, however much appropriate I think it is.

[@claredavies764]

Tom has outlived many pontiffs... he must be doing something good!!

[@OneMondBand]

If this is indeed a live performance rather than and lip-sync studio version then this guy is a brilliant and talented pianist.

[@stevenmeyer9674]

it was a live night club performance.

[@Krzyszczynski]

It might as well have been a lip-synch for all the audience (non) reaction while he was performing it. Such a contrast to the Hungry i recording, with its gales of laughter throughout.

[@daleterrell1813]

Brought to my attention by a student from Stetson during my junior year abroad in the '60's, who first heard it from her (obviously young) priest. Very clever guy, who retreated back to the mathematics dept at Harvard, so I heard, when told to select his career path. I think I have the 3 vinyls in the basement someplace.

[@mintyxx1]

I am happily listening to this song on Ash Wednesday 🤣

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Of course you’re not crazy, Rachel. Tom is GORGEOUS! And such a lovely person. I feel privileged to have known him for so many years.....

[@noelgillett346]

Love this song, Doggon it!

[@maxsdad538]

I think I still have my old 8-track, but I haven't played it since the 70's. Hearing Tom Lehrer again is like listening to an old friend

[@charlesdalmas6534]

Tom Lehrer is a GENIUS. End of.

[@sunwynravenwood4820]

Somehow I managed to miss this one .. I guess I was thinking of other things ... I like it but I love his other ones. Thanks for giving me a new song from someone whose work I have loved for 50 years.

[@RevWillTheThrill1974]

Some of the best rhymes ever written.

[@Arkybark]

Thanks for this. Didn't realize it wasn't already up. I have all of these on old LPs but am delighted to be able to listen to them while on the computer!

[@munch481]

Tom has other songs that are very good: "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park." Etc. Look him up. Our daughter knew all his songs when she was about 4 and loved singing them.

[@XNY556-Apple]

"National Brotherhood Week" is a good one

[@XNY556-Apple]

Be grateful that it doesn't last all year.

[@number3Ihatetoontown]

"Everybody hates the Jews."

[@adamf663]

we will all go together when we go. I love the rymes where he splits a word between two lines like rhyming tragic with ajec and the next line starting with 'tives. (adjectives)' Rhyming funeral with sooner-or-l ... ater. (sooner or later)

[@adamf663]

@@number3Ihatetoontown do the whole stanza: catholics hate the protestants and the protestants hate the catholics. the hindus hate the Muslims and everybody hates the jews.... later: all of my folks hate all of your folks. it's as American as apple pie!

[@bomagosh]

It raises the question of how many communion wafers you have to eat to have eaten a whole Jesus.

[@roberthill799]

I attended a Catholic grade school from 1966 to 1974 where we had to go to mass every day before classes began, in addition to the required Sunda mass. I must have devoured the flesh of the Prince of Peace at least five times. (Burp!)

[@wheedler]

I always thought the implication was that He was shrunk down, so you were always eating a copy of the whole thing.

[@lindacicerchi7294]

To transubstiate, you were eating the whole thing​@wheedler

[@dannyhughes4889]

Never heard of him before but what an entertainer !!!!!!!!

[@ldcraig2006]

They just don't write them like this anymore. Lehrer was an absolute genius! I've only seen "Weird Al" Yankovic come close with respect to writing lyrics.

[@cass671]

the genuflect genuflect genuflect gets me every darn time

[@jeromenewberry1463]

I was fortunate enough to see Tom in concert. Must have been 1959 or so. Great guy, great songs.

[@sbspock]

Thank you for sharing this! I had never heard that line about it being OK to kill a man on Friday but not to eat meat on Friday! Great version, indeed!

[@G6JPG]

Or, as said in [the film] "Victor Victoria" (possibly quoting from somewhere else), "Kill 'em, but don't kiss 'em".

[@nolitetebastardescarborund9761]

OK for a soldier to kill a man on Friday but a sin to eat him on Friday.

[@nalou6933]

Heard his stuff on the Dr. Demento radio show on Sunday nights. "The Doctor Is In"!!!!!!!

[@Catmom2004]

Actually, I did find a 1965 version on You-tube that was possibly from the Hungry I. That was the one I heard on an LP in the 1980's with a VERY animated audience. The video's comments had a fascinating anecdote that Ricardo Montalban was in the audience in 1965 and was outraged at Lehrer's parody of Catholicism. He said: "I would DIE for my religion!" TL said: "That's fine, just don't do it here." LOL I believe this story.

[@hockeynhorses7190]

My mum makes me listen to this every week - needless to say it’s the highlight of my week 😂

[@Catmom2004]

Reminds me of my high school days, when my dad caught me listeining to George Carlin's "Class Clown" album in about 1976-1977. My dad walked in from work just as George was rattling off the "7 words you can never say on TV" rofl. Dad threw it in the trash just before it got picked up--but the damage was already done. To this day, I can still recite some of the routines on that album verbatim. Ha!

[@lauramilagros5472]

6/16/21 I think u can find that entire album on KZbin ...as a refresher course. 😲🤣😎

[@Catmom2004]

@@lauramilagros5472 Thanks for the tip! I will look for it. 😁