Tom Lehrer - The Vatican Rag - with intro - widescreen

Tom Lehrer on public domain (2020):
tomlehrersongs...
www.amazon.com/...
Use the above link and get the uninterrupted Lehrer TV-performance and The Tom Lehrer Collection from Amazon.com.
www.shoutfactor...
If you live in the United States you can also buy the collection from Shout! Factory, using the above link.
itunes.apple.co...
Use the above link to buy Tom Lehrer's songs on iTunes.
- -
This is a new upload to let people hear Tom Lehrer's spoken intro to The Vatican Rag. It is also uploaded to celebrate religious holidays. The old 4:3-version will also stay on the channel. Over the years a lot of people have been offended by this song, also on KZbin.
- -
Lehrer said "OK" to "The Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel" on KZbin, as long as the performance is not altered and as long as it's free in the KZbin 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....
© Tom Lehrer
Recording date: September 11th 1967
Format: Ampex Quadruplex PAL 4:3
Status: A very rare recording
Storage: Sony Digital Betacam
Production and preservation: The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation - the NRK, Norway. More here:
www.nrk.no/info...

[@2300Kenzie]

Back in '67 a priest visiting our island was at our house for dinner and my dad played this song for him. He roared with laughter and had to hear it again. Needless to say, he loved it and wasn't offended.

[@smhorse]

I memorised all the Lehrer songs at school, bought the song book, and even managed to play one or two songs on the piano. His songs endure to this day. Tom Lehrer is a genius. That's the only word for him.

[@AngelusNielson]

He's still alive in 2024, tat blows my mind. he's 96/...

[@sliderossian]

Lehrer has said of his musical career, "If, after hearing my songs, just one human being is inspired to say something nasty to a friend, or perhaps to strike a loved one, it will all have been worth the while."

[@AsksOneThing]

That "Ave Maria, gee it's good to see ya." line kills me every time! LOL Reminds me of morning Mass with the little old rosary-praying ladies (and men!) That's how they *always* greet people they don't see every day: "Gee, it's good to see ya!"

[@F-Man]

I just discovered this guy. Brilliant satirist! His songs are still quite relevant too.

[@cqsallie]

Absolutely wonderful! My father and I used to love the music/scandalous offerings of Lehrer before I got married and moved away. In the days before the internet, daddy would call me and sing the latest Tom Lehrer song. We both loved the Vatican Rag, being on the verge of fallen Catholics. Thank you so much for posting this....

[@garylobo3]

Thank you my friend. He's my hero, and you too for posting such wonderful memories, all re-created anew for not only the old fans, but how many more new disciples are in the ranks today, due to your efforts? Take a bow.

[@MrKlemps]

Hard to believe Tom will be 87 in April! The number of performers and sports figures who quit at the top of their games can be counted on the fingers of a maimed hand. Tom and Sandy Koufax make a damned good pair.

[@bartonside]

Tom Lehrer began his career parodying various popular song forms and his work was first heard in Britain on the august intellectual radio station the BBC Third Porgramme. His first LP was produced privately and my father brought me a copy when he visited the USA. His best performances are characterised by tremendous energy and his piano accompaniment is artfully complimentary to the songs. He seems largely forgotten now, which is a greaty pity.

[@reallyharried]

2-4-6-8, time to transubstantiate.

[@TauCatholic]

A number of years ago, I worked on a production of Tomfoolery, which includes this song along with other Tom Lehrer classics like Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, two of my favourite pieces from him.

[@6funswede]

@casestudyification, if that´s a question, the answer is: Yes, he did.

[@6funswede]

thornewood, thank you so much, yes, I feel that he really is. One thing is his impeccable satire, comic talent and great musicality, but he also managed to write satirical songs with a (deservedly) LONG life :-)

[@matthewmaus]

Thank you so much for posting these tracks. TL is a big hearted genius, for sure, but what makes these songs even better, is that the big hearted genius, Dr Tom Lehrer is still very much among us (he's 83, and as sparklingly witty as ever). And poignantly, many of his songs still feel very relevant today. Viva Dr Lehrer! xxx

[@6funswede]

Oh, thank you. But look, it's Lehrer who should be thanked. He wrote that, although I was indiscrete with this posting, he'd let the videos stay. This is rare material indeed ;-)

[@laaxe]

My uncle used to play this for me way earlier than 1967! Tom was a real pioneer, turning multiple radios on, calling it music... Zappa likey was heavily influenced by this guy! Brilliant!

[@6funswede]

Shackleton42, thank you for commenting. Lehrer wants people to be able to watch these twelve songs legally, so please spread the word!

[@imshooshy]

BRILLIANT!

[@ELRONDGASAL]

I just realized this video is released 1 month after I was born

[@garylobo3]

I too always thought it was a sin to eat a man on Friday. I find Saturday much more rewarding.

[@gatopdx]

What a wonderful video! Thank you, again... (I am still hoping for a video of Alma!)

[@videot27]

Wow - where have you found all these great clips? Lehrer is a genius - it's nice to finally see some footage of him performing. Thanks for posting and sharing!!

[@OscarLiu24]

yeah~~ I've been waiting for the spoken intro version for this song for a while~ GG 6funswede!

[@ecoRfan]

We need more Tom Lehrers in this world. Not only was he off the charts genius, but man talk about playing the piano! More so, his topics are very relevant and would be 'politically incorrect' by some today. C'mon, free speech. Someone today should make music like he did.

[@playmeaditty]

woo intro! Thanks for posting this! :)

[@6funswede]

This video is now out on DVD. Please read the updated video description or visit the channel page!

[@6funswede]

All the twelve Tom Lehrer songs from this channel have now been republished in better quality. Click the Lehrer icon or the username, go to the channel and select one of the uploaded HQ-versions :-) Don't forget to click the HQ-button.

[@YoomOmer]

Great version - Never heard this introduction before. As always - Good Job 6funswede

[@thornewood]

This guy is a genius.

[@lisesruneland]

YAAAAAY

[@90geekgirl06]

Ah, I love this song. I find it extra funny because I'm Catholic. xD

[@6funswede]

April 2009 - 6funswede KZbin log. Errors July 2007-April 2009. "Pollution": Sound deteriorated. "When You Are Old And Gray": Video stuttering. "Send the Marines": Video stuttering. This is ALL KZbin errors, have written to them, but I don't expect any answers. Viewers: PLEASE use the annotation boxes with links in the videos.

[@thedragon133]

the beginning of the song reminds me of super mario bros. o.O" at 1:02

[@2300Kenzie]

We sure were Catholic as was he. My dad was raised by nuns as a young child. He had a great sense of humor about the church. My mother was alarmed when my dad started to play the song, but relieved shortly afterward.

[@ItIsJustJudy]

2300Kenzie - Tom Lehrer wasn’t Catholic. He was a genius in satire.

[@totallyhumanhades]

Oh no Tom Lehrer he was raised Jewish!

[@2300Kenzie]

This comment was supposed to be part of my previous post about a visiting priest. I meant that the priest was catholic, not Tom.

[@fauxgrace]

Does anyone have the version of this song where he doesn't bauble at the beginning of the tune? I can't find it anywhere. LOVE this GUY!

[@6funswede]

thedragon133, he he, well, Tom Lehrer was certainly many years ahead of Koji Kondo (the Nintendo composer).

[@theoriginalsuzycat]

@C3P0meetsData Thanks be to God.

[@Languslangus]

🎶

[@igornonsuch]

Nice one Thanks 6funswede

[@6funswede]

garylobo3, he he, that's a five star comment!

[@fadethetrade]

I prefer the "that was the year that was tom leher" album and performances over these.

[@lovjeffdunham]

Where do you get these vids???

[@6funswede]

Oh, maybe. But Koji Kondo, being a classically trained (serious) conposer, had heard ragtime already :-)

[@cfban]

Still more reverent than a Novus Ordo Mass.

[@thedragon133]

I know, but perhaps Koji Kondo heard Tom and copied it a little bit. Who knows? :-)

[@mystered]

1:13 - a rare vocal flub?

[@dagamerzden]

The start sounds like mario.

[@Kingdaddy8]

Pope Benedict and five cardinals dislike this video.

[@TheresaWaggett]

Very offensive