Tom Lehrer Sings Pollution 1967

This song and film came just a few years before the first Earth Day in 1970. Tom Lehrer is an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician. He known for the pithy, humorous songs that he recorded in the 1950s and 1960s. His work often parodies popular song forms, such as in "The Elements", where he sets the names of the chemical elements to the tune of the "Major-General's Song" from Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance. Lehrer's earlier work typically dealt with non-topical subject matter and was noted for its black humor, seen in songs such as "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park". In the 1960s, he produced a number of songs dealing 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.
In the early 1970s, he retired from public performances to devote his time to teaching mathematics and music theatre. This short film of "Pollution", featuring a cartoon of a bird playing a piano at a dump, combined with real scenes of industrial excess from across America, was made in 1966 and 1967 by Astrafilms for the U.S. Communicable Disease Center (not the Environmental Protection Agency as previously reported). The first cut in 1966 featured the live recording of "Pollution" from the LP, but this version of the film was not used. It was then redone in 1967, using more drastic scenes to really drive home the message. Tom and the producers agreed that it would be better to use a studio recording of the song without the audience, so he re-recorded it for the second version. It was then distributed by the National Medical Audio-Visual Center. For more of his wonderful songs that still have meaning today, go to dmdb.org/lehrer/.

[@noctifersummanus15]

my right ear really loved this

[@postedonmyiphone]

I love this soo much and I've got no idea why my generation don't know of this genius :/

[@louisv.lombardo4092]

Yes it was at the Third National Conference on Air Pollution held in Washington, DC Dec. 12-14, 1966. I was a management intern with the Dept. of HEW. Rep. Daddario was my Congressman from Hartford, Connecticut. I invited him to tour the exhibits with me because I was working on the Conference at the time. Sorry for the delay in responding. I just noticed your questions.

[@6funswede]

Thanks! I really enjoyed this one :-)

[@jackcarter-to5gx]

Many years later it is still true

[@louisv.lombardo4092]

I was a young management intern in the Public Health Service and my assignment was to help with a Conference the agency was putting on. It was shown at the Third National Conference on Air Pollution. It was in a Washington, DC hotel Dec. 1996. I was from Hartford and I called the Congressman's office and asked if I could escort him through the exhibits. Entering the hall, before the film, there was a map of the U.S. illuminated with flashing lights showing SO2 emissions - 3 in Hartford .

[@rhaben]

I'm so glad you posted this! I haven't seen this since 1973 when my English teacher in high school showed it to us! I've searched for it off and on for years. Thank you.

[@roys476]

Me too! You didn't happen to go to MHS and have Mr. Bush for English did you?

[@louisv.lombardo4092]

True story about this video which I saw in 1966 with Congressman Daddario and a lobbyist from a power company. When we came out of the showing, the lobbyist was nearly apoplectic! His fists pounding on an imaginary desk he was saying: Congressman! Congressman! This is downright communistic! My tax dollars producing this propaganda!!! Rep. Daddario put his hand on the lobbyist's shoulder and said: Jack. Jack. Calm down. You'll have a heart attack. And then they left the exhibit hall.

[@podiumman2]

Wow.

[@Anon26535]

Daddario should've let him have the heart attack.

[@StickyBooger13]

I remember singing this in school with my class as part of Health Class

[@kevinmueller5284]

I remember this from the television when I was young. As it happens, I am typing this from Phnom Penh Cambodia, where I am visiting my beautiful Asian girlfriend. I played this for her, because I was absolutely astonished at the level of trash discarded throughout the country. They think nothing of throwing just anything on the ground and simply walking away. it is like walking through a landfill, literally, it cannot be exaggerated!

[@louisv.lombardo4092]

Thanks! Recently I told the story to a group of seniors. One of the ladies was horrified because her son worked for a power company.

[@EbenezerIan123]

Only 807 views in 6 months! Where is everybody?

[@jaygross803]

Cool. And wayyyyyy too true. -J:

[@marrrrrrks]

Pretty funny song!

[@markdcatlin]

Thanks for your wonderful memory! Do you recal where the showing was? And how did you see it with the Congressman?

[@louisv.lombardo4092]

Mark: Where are you now? Lou

[@kasturia1641]

You try to give the video more brightness it will be great if you do

[@tnaoro]

There's an upcoming school play, and I pracited tom lehrer's song with this video. But my school (BCSSSD) won't let me. I now have to sing jasckon fives's "ABC". I don't like it.

[@podiumman2]

:(

[@olaashraf3623]

How was the play ? (i am a year late lmao )

[@benjaminspecland8947]

what?

[@tnaoro]

@@olaashraf3623 ok. I loved the song

[@sylart57]

Haven't seen this since the early '70s! Funny stuff!!! This country was , (is), a mess!!! LOL!!!

[@seanramsdell4172]

Who directed this?

[@markdcatlin]

Other than the credits at the end, it was distributed by the National Medical Audio-Visual Center

[@Anon26535]

"Then you can breathe, 'long as you don't inhale" Am I the only one who was surprised to learn this came out decades before the Clinton administration?

[@EmperorFishFinger]

That's some awful sound quality.

[@podiumman2]

It's from 1967; jeez.

[@ELRONDGASAL]

The worst music i ever had

[@Bozolisand]

"ever had?" You have sex with music?