Tom Lehrer - The Vatican Rag - with intro

[@dougmontgomery1868]

I read that when Lehrer performed this at the hungry i in San Francisco, Ricardo Montalban was in the audience. Montalban was deeply offended and said, "How _dare_ you make fun of my religion! I _love_ my religion! I would _die_ for my religion!" Lehrer answered, "That's fine with me, as long as you don't do it here."

[@mathewhale3581]

Doug Montgomery Ohhh my god...What a nerd burn! Sweet baby cheeses please let me remember that one when I need it

[@narakagati5872]

@Soreofhing It shouldn't

[@galahad9853]

Mathew Hale this was the sixties though

[@carolynzaremba5469]

ZING!

[@dougmontgomery1868]

@@narakagati5872 But if I dare to ridicule YOU, you will scream bloody murder and curse me out.

[@sesshypuppysbff]

For somebody so inherently nerdy, he really was quite the looker, and charming too! You'd never guess at first glance that he was a math nerd and a chemistry nerd and so very snarky on the inside!

[@Raguleader]

Honestly, he looks basically exactly how I'd imagine a math/chemistry nerd to look in the 1960s.

[@reneefuller5609]

I think he's a Doll. I see the smile in his eyes as well as the little corners of his mouth! If only I were older!

[@wrongturnVfor]

nerds are usually very very snarky, lol. And what you talking about. He oozes Nerd vibes. The first time I looked at him I went that's a grade A nerd! And I freaking love nerds!

[@MCDreng]

He looks exactly like I'd expect a math teacher to look like

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

My first swing at college: (1966), I had a friend who introduced me to the witty, funny, catchy songs of Tom Lehrer. Fast forward to 2017. I am sitting in a coffee shop. I'm close to 70 (!) years old, and a beloved, eccentric neighbor of ours walks in. I say "Ave Maria, gee it's good to see ya!" And he answers, "The Vatican Rag!!". We were off and running, of course for the next hour, quoting lyrics and laughing our asses off. Such great fun. Thank you Mr. Lehrer...BTW Randy Rainbow is, musically... a linear descendant of this clever gent.

[@skygh]

Interesting about Randy! Good stuff

[@scattysafari7742]

Loved Lehrer since I was 13. Such a handsome,literate, talented, witty man. We need more guys more like him.

[@thrupert]

+ScattySafari i'm 14 and I love him.

[@S955US84]

When I was 14, I also thought he was very clever. Then as I became educated, I came to see him for what he is.

[@thrupert]

S955US84 Hm? Elaborate.

[@ThatGuyGl]

How much could you have learned in two years? That is, of course, a joke. I know you don't really get those considering all of the comments being made by you on nearly all of Tom Lehrer's videos. I have to ask, though, why hold such animosity towards him? Can a harmless joke not stay as such?

[@S955US84]

Chris Smith - This Vatican Rag goes far beyond being a joke - Denigrating a religion that is as kind and giving as the Catholic faith is an affront and insult to much of humanity. And no, I am NOT Catholic.

[@zendonrey122]

My friend's very Catholic mother was cracking up the first time he played this song for her.

[@algebraizt]

+Zendon Rey Yeah its almost like the spiritual prequel to Sister Act :P

[@scattysafari7742]

I can't speak for anyone else, but coming from a family that is predominantly Catholic,(my dad is super-devout) & as someone who went to a Catholic school,we all loved Lehrer. He had a poke at the rituals, not so much the actual beliefs. It's not a bad thing to have a soh about yourself & your religion, but if others find it offensive, that's their right. We can agree to disagree without name-calling.

[@TeeKay19]

My very Catholic mother chased my brother and I around our house trying to get the record from us so she could destroy it...to her it was blasphemy.

[@kid.hudson_]

Well of course, Vatican II is a joke and most Catholics consider it a place of heresy.

[@mussman717word]

​​@@kid.hudson_ If they believe that, then, well, they aren't Catholic, bub. You don't have the authority to go around rejecting Church councils like a protestant. The implementation of Vatican II led to some liturgical chaos during the '70s, but that was not a result of the council itself and it's been nearly all cleared up since then. The only ones complaining about it today are the crusty old folks who refuse to go to anything but a Latin Mass and watch conspiracy theorists like Taylor Marshall, and they are all flirting with schism.

[@johnrock6241]

The Catholics who can laugh at themselves are the best adjusted Catholics.

[@kid.hudson_]

Vatican II was made by Catholic extremists and it was considered a place where heresy took place. Ironic

[@ethancheung2696]

Begrüßen Den Kraken not sure what you mean, the second Vatican council aimed to be progressive and to change with the times. To my knowledge all it really did was say that Catholics should not persecute people from other religions and to make the faith more accessible to the general public by not using Latin.

[@therealzilch]

Catholics can laugh at themselves more than Protestants because of their Pagan importations.

[@johnrock6241]

@@therealzilch But I have heard that Pagans have more fun in the literature from the period

[@therealzilch]

@@johnrock6241 That's what I'm saying. Because Pagans had more fun than Christians, and could laugh at themselves more, then the Catholics, who imported and retained more Pagan beliefs than the Protestants, thus have more fun that Protestants, in a very general way.

[@LouLange]

My father (God rest his soul) introduced his music to me when I was young. He attended MIT while Mr. Lehrer was a professor of Mathematics there. His songs were quite relevant in the day and it is great that they are being rolled back out now.

[@riesenbonobo7846]

I love that a guy called Mr. Lehrer (literally Mr. Teacher in german) was professor

[@panzerx728]

I'm offensive and I find this Catholic

[@RUOKH]

The World would be a much safer and happier place if we could all occasionally laugh at our own dogma beliefs. As a Roman Catholic and Benedictine Oblate I love 'the Vatican Rag' and think it should be played at the end of every Mass. Thank you and God bless you Tom.

[@js66613]

This continues to still be one of my favourites since I've first heard it.

[@6funswede]

@MrSpockify, yes they are. Tom Lehrer was "slightly appreciated" in his time, but he will get "the Mozart effect": In two hundred years people will play his comedy songs -- and watch the TV-performance -- in utter amazement.

[@bettestruble7887]

The Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel Mozart was incredibly famous during his lifetime, terrible name for what you described

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Ave Maria, gee it’s good to see ya! How I love the sense of humour of my dear friend Tom Lehrer. If you ever see this, Tom, it was lovely bumping into you in the Eden Centre earlier this week!

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

I just now (March 2020) turned on an Australian friend to Tom Lehrer. Like me, he was raised Catholic and had some real issues about the Church's theatricality, and worse, its hypocrisy. Yet this guy is one of the most spiritual I know. Anyway, when I got to the Ave Marie line, he almost fell over. I shared the video with him, and he has thanked me hugely just now...Tom Lehrer is the best!!

[@carolynzaremba5469]

This was one of the first of Lehrer's songs that I memorized.

[@randallevans5141]

I've performed this over many years for Catholics and non-Catholics, all of whom have loved it.

[@moushka26]

Brilliant. I remember laughing my a** off to this in my teens. And I'm Catholic, or at least I was. Most mathematicians are incredibly bright; they have to be. Brains and a sense of humor = unbeatable combination!

[@0RedTree0]

Tom Lehrer is a legend....

[@Zonarama]

Thank-you so much for sharing these videos. Tom Leher was astoundingly great!

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

The best version of The Vatican Rag that you will ever find on KZbin!

[@kenhoughton2594]

Every Catholic I know loves this.

[@dougmontgomery1868]

I told a Catholic girl from high school, named Jo, about this, the Holiday season after we finished school. I gave Jo the titles of all the songs; "The Vatican Rag" was the last one on Side 2 of the album. She laughed. :D

[@moursundjames]

I am Catholic and love this!!

[@bwworld]

Thank you 6funswede for sharing these amazing videos of songs that I literally grew up singing! My appreciation also to Tom Lehrer and the NRK for allowing these videos to be published on KZbin for the world's enjoyment!

[@Karthos1000]

Perhaps his greatest song.

[@sfctw1]

John Landon I'd rather say "Who's next?", but you cannot compare 2 masterpieces. Or "Wernher v. Braun" or "We will all go together when we go". You simply can't. 'Cause they're all super awesome in their ways!

[@DavijiWeirdo]

+sfctwZockt I'm personally partial to either "Pollution" or "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park"

[@waltdoherty540]

Don't forget the Masochim Tango. 😀

[@Raspberrygoop]

I'm a huge fan of Lehrer's music, so I should thank you for putting up these fantastic videos! It's one thing listening to the audio by itself, but a far greater experience seeing the man himself play. Bravo.

[@JEMCO2008]

Thak you I am a 60 year old catholic and today is the first time i saw this one Thank you

[@lindsaywarden1746]

Oh, my goodness, just absolute GENIUS!!!

[@gunnarthorsen]

Some people think that this song makes fun of the Catholic Church, but it doesn't. What it DOES poke fun at is the notion that faith and ancient religious traditions can be "packaged", "hyped", or "updated", so as to make them trendy, "feel good", and get people into the pews. All of this came about after the Second Vatican Council, and it's funny; before that council, the pews WERE packed. The Mass went from venerable Latin, used in every Catholic church around the globe (hey, even we kids understood much of it), to the majestic english of Shakespeare, then to frankly banal street English. Everything got dumbed down in order to make an unfathomable mystery more "accessible"! The priest became less of a "priest", and more of a talk show host. Moments of reverent silence went out the window, to be filled with yakking, guitar strumming, and hand shaking. People no longer knelt for communion, received on the tongue, and instead schlepped up to the altar to take the host in their hands like it was a cookie. Fortunately, the pendulum is swinging the other way. The old Mass is being made more and more available for those who want it (including many young people!), and the "new" Mass is regaining a sense of reverence and historical continuity. Lehrer wrote this song when all of the silliness (and sometimes sad desecration) was just beginning. It was remarkably prophetic in terms of abuses that occurred in the name of "reform", many not even in LINE with the reforms.

[@crazylabrat]

Yup, Vatican II was great for the freethinking movement.

[@westbrit4714]

+Hans Thorsen People in Ireland thought that Pope John and Vatican Two were likely to undermine the Roman Church and in fact make it less 'Catholic' It didn't in the slightest the Scandals that came out in the Late 90's however have . Reform was correct but it needed to be institutional and Practical as well as theological. Ave Maria- gee it's good to see ya Is a lyric of genius and I have never meet a Priest who would not smile at it !

[@oO_ox_O]

Gunnar Thorsen > _hey, even we kids understood much of it_ So much so that _hoc est corpus_ became hocus-pocus, right? :P

[@Dominian1]

+Gunnar Thorsen The song is funny, because institutionalized Religion is a joke, no matter the rules or false gods they pray to. They don't know the purpose of life either, they just bully you into their version. They inherited god from their fathers, who also inherited it. At some point someone just made it up. Religion is a scourge that needs to be eradicated, because it taints the thoughts of the young.

[@yetanother9127]

Isn't the entire _point_ of Christianity is that God's teachings should be available to all, regardless of their education etc.?

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

A number of people who post comments on KZbin seem to believe that Tom Lehrer no longer performs in public. I do hope that those of you who believe that are now convinced that he does indeed still perform live in concert. Seeing him do so in Copenhagen recently was a joyful experience!

[@waltdoherty540]

"Everybody say his own Kirie eleison." Genius, just genius.

[@vincemarino2539]

I received this from a former band 🎺🎷at cathedral high school 🏫 when we were in the 8th grade. I still laugh as hard as I did in 1964. thanks, buddy

[@mussman717word]

I'm Catholic, and I find this to be hilarious.

[@count_bodies_like_sheep9296]

I'm Catholic and I love this.

[@mussman717word]

@@count_bodies_like_sheep9296 Peace be with you!

[@BklynBruzer]

His facial expressions really make this video. Lehrer is awesome.

[@achiappanza]

I've been playing this guy's songs for almost four decades and have never seen pictures or video of him. This is such a trip. It's like the first time I saw video of Pigpen singing for the Dead.

[@6funswede]

Skybluefox, yes, this is true, a really good recovery. Remember that this was done live in 1967, with an Ampex recorder and no ISO-connected extra cameras.

[@brotherdarek]

just wonderful..I heard this for the first time on CBC radio years ago.

[@6funswede]

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

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Love this performance!

[@angelcakefromteenidlebymarina]

he is so unbelievably charming and funny! it's honestly difficult not to fall in love with him. definitely a man ahead of his time in terms of his humour. i wish i could meet him - i just know that a conversation with him would be utterly fantastic!! although i don't know how eager he would be to have a conversation with a 19 year old; i think i might bore him!

[@qwmx]

I feel put off sending him fan mail. He doesn't seem like the type who appreciates it, unless signing items maybe...and I won't be sending mail to him as a fan, because I do like his works, I don't know his personality enough to like him. He has a very interesting mind and I so wish to ask him questions to map his mind, to poke and prod.

[@6funswede]

BklynBruzer, yes he really is one-of-a-kind as a (musical) satirist, no doubt about that. Thank you so much for watching :-)

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Superb!

[@6funswede]

Zonarama, thank you so much for watching them, and thanks to Tom Lehrer for not roasting me. Click on the Tom Lehrer icon and find the whole HQ playlist (latest upoaded versions of the songs) and spread it around :-)

[@YoomOmer]

6funswede, you've definitely upshined yourself this time. Most probably the only (video) recording of the great lehrer, and on HQ. Kudos!

[@Raspberrygoop]

I like how he accidentally started singing the last verse near the beginning. Good recovery Tom~!

[@carolynzaremba5469]

That has happened to me on stage.

[@6funswede]

Antibaryon, thank you, and easily a rare KZbin video too, because the songs were never released on home video, VHS or DVD. Spread the word about the celebration and republishing in HQ :-)

[@ciarankelly6223]

Big Thanx to Dr. Demento who introduced me to "The Professor"

[@6funswede]

@TheSV3, no, I don't know anything about this. Wikipedia says that the movie was made in 1980 and, by that time, Lehrer was back in business as a university lecturer in math. Please send me a message if you find such a video clip. Search for Marty Feldman and Tom Lehrer on KZbin to watch some nuns dancing to the rag.

[@theq4602]

Thunderf00t would love this.

[@BucketCapacity]

[x] Genuflect

[@deekorbel5259]

I heard this song for the first time the one and only year I spend in a Catholic high school. I remember the song fondly to this day...not so much the school.

[@6funswede]

cheesenedd, according to Wikipedia the ragtime was most popular between 1897 and 1918. I'd say that it's a 20s (inspired) song with a 60s lyrics :-) Thanks for watching!

[@kokoken1]

@mabarry3 Genuflect basically means kneel with reverence.

[@fletchercastoria2338]

One of my favorites.

[@mariedelozier2530]

Love it!!

[@Libertarianne]

Happy 93rd Tom!

[@jrocklij3]

first time i've seen PIANO used for comedy, and i like it! a LOT. makes me feel better.

[@carolynzaremba5469]

You've never heard of Victor Borge?

[@motivationforbreakfast]

Summed it up nicely!

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Tom, how is it that you never age? I know you were born in the same year as my lovely Mick but you still have glossy black hair and a sexy smile while, when Mick died, his hair and beard were white! Bet you still miss him as much as I do though!

[@savlecz1187]

Obligatory I'm Catholic and I love this. I seriously do, though, this is great!

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Ave Maria, gee it’s good to see ya! Says it all, doesn’t it!

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Doug Montgomery, I loved your story about Tom Lehrer performing at the hungry i in San Francisco!

[@6funswede]

@drunkdified, yes, this really is Tom Lehrer, performing in 1967. Click on my stupid username and visit the channel, which is Lehrer only and nothing else. Thank you for your comment :-)

[@GuillemotWatcher]

There isn't a Catholic in the world with a sense of humour who wouldn't find this a hoot

[@MrForsyth91]

@GwenAYF: Also, he's still alive.

[@noohoozfurra]

Fantastic...that simple.

[@Szt1998]

I'm catholic and I have to say this is hilarious

[@luisreyes1963]

You think that's funny, check out "Father Ted" on video sometime. 🤣

[@jraldne1]

THANK YOU!!!...

[@satanclaus8575]

AHAHAHAH "AVE MARIA / GEE ITS GOOD TO SEE YA"

[@joelstein4657]

If what you believe can't stand up against a little razzing, maybe it's not worth believing.

[@TheHutchy01]

With that famous Ricardo Montalban story about this song, Lehrer nearly saw the Wrath of Khan 20+ years early.

[@DavidElCid300]

Genius!

[@jhohen03]

@mabarry3 Kyrie eleison means "Lord have mercy" and is said as part of a prayer at the beginning of mass. Ave Maria is just "hail Mary", said in many prayers and songs

[@6funswede]

@drunkdified, no, Lehrer has nothing to do with this channel. But if you are asking if the man singing in these videos is Tom Lehrer? Yes is the answer, and he knows about the channel too.

[@jht1414]

what an awesome and hilarious song

[@stephensandberg5037]

AWESOME

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Another example of Tom’s wonderfully eloquent eyebrows!

[@6funswede]

@jrocklij3, if so, click on my (stupid) username, watch the 11 (480p) clips that Lehrer has allowed to stay here and feel even better ;D

[@shanemorrissey192]

"I don't sleep. Save for day and night " here s a nugget.

[@6funswede]

@Compudoc, this is actually the first time you can buy a Lehrer concert DVD for a reasonable price. Click on my (stupid) unsername and enjoy the rest.

[@j1mdown1ng]

The rendition on The Gong Show was some people lip-syncing to the track. I believe it's in The Gong Show Movie.

[@cactusguy4363]

I love when he loses his place in tye lyrics at 1:28

[@kokoken1]

@inf2k and genuflect, genuflect, genuflect.

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

#Cauthon75 - yes, it is Tom’s real name. Why would you think otherwise?

[@jackl3586]

this is part of the reason that kids are so smart these days in histrocities and mathlish.

[@docwra8]

Tom needs to make a comeback with the Mecca Mambo or Song for Sharia. The trouble with most religions is they take themselves too seriously.

[@BLAB-it5un]

Mocking the insanity of Catholicism is a great calling. We should all be so wise and confident to stand up to the lunacy.

[@MURDERPILLOW.]

I dont think that was his intentions

[@mieszkothemigrantmercenary2808]

Can someone point out the part where he makes fun of my religion because I cannot find it This song is hilarious

[@6funswede]

Skybluefox, thank you. Check your KZbin messages. It is Tom Lehrer who should be thanked for these videos and not me :-)

[@256rc]

@mabarry3 In Swedish, the word sex means six and sex. I think.

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Tom, I still remember the flight which we shared to New York when you were greeted by the air hostess with “Good Morning Archbishop, delighted to welcome you onboard” and I couldn’t resist the temptation of telling you that you were probably the first member of the Jewish faith ever to be appointed a Catholic Archbishop!

[@TheTapeClub]

Atheist Canadian over here, actively protesting the current treatment and depictions of Middle Easterners in modern North American & European media, politics, law, and social hierarchy. Citing human nature as a basis for your opinions is all well and good on the large scale. However, the large scale is, without exception, made up entirely of individual beings. An Important thing to remember.

[@labo16]

Just great! Where did you get them?

[@7h3Master]

Yup, he starts to say the "Make a cross on your abdomen" line.

[@6funswede]

@labo16 I sent you a KZbin message to answer, but click on the Tom Lehrer icon and check out the content. It's all there :-)

[@Frankcastlepunisher74]

Tom was the only man than could be Mark Twain's inherentor!

[@strafrag1]

♥

[@michaelt977]

lehrer,not lehr.

[@TheNeolithicMan]

@drunkdified That account is not run by lehrer....

[@leemumbray-williams2440]

Hi Tom, I find myself deeply frustrated this week. You know I have a HUGE collection of your wonderful CDs so I bought myself a new CD player online. It arrived this morning but sadly it doesn’t work and my guess it never will! Really annoying not to be able to play your wonderful music!

[@Languslangus]

🎶

[@cheesenedd]

so is this more like a 50s song or a 20s song, he says ragtime but to me it sounds very 50s dance song to me.

[@Cauthon75]

Anybody know whether Lehrer is the name he was born with or just a stage name? It seems quite a coincidence that he was a teacher, and his name is Yiddish for teacher.

[@GlobalizationGuide]

Whats the word after "bow your head in great respect"?

[@mojocat42]

genuflect, genuflect, genuflect! it's when you bow your head as you come into the chapel and face the giant crucifix (in every catholic church, anyways)