Life Is Like A Sewer
May 28th, 2006 by Don Ray
Tom Lehrer was one of my favorite artists when I was in college. He was a Harvard graduate and known as a musical satirist. He is another of my lost friends that I have become reacquainted with on Pandora. Who can forget “Poisoning pidgins in the park” or “We will all go together when we go”?
He typically would do a lengthy comic introduction to each song. In one I just listened to, he says, “Life is like a sewer… what you get out of it depends on what you put into it”.
What an inspirational poignant thought, expressed in a colorful way that I wouldn’t have thought of, but can’t argue with. If you would like to know a little more about Tom Lehrer, remember that Google is your friend.
If you would like to hear one of his bits, plug his name into Pandora.
Don,
I grew up in Los Alamos in the 50 & 60’s. Although I didn’t know Tom Lehrer my father did. Tom used to give some local performanes in the early 50s as he was working on some of his songs. Anyway I have a number of his albums – well worn. I finally copied them on tape so I won’t completely destroy the albums.
I enjoy many of his songs, such as the elements song where he predicts new ones would be discovered (about a dozen of them have been since the song was written). I suggest the song “Lobachevsky” for my students when I discover plagiarism in the student course work.
Rob
Ah yes, “Plagiarize, never let anyone else’s work evade your eyes.” I had forgotten that one, but I remember using the quote many times. Unfortunately, Pandora doesn’t have that selection.
By the way. I think it is time to burn them onto CD.
Rob, thanks for leaving a comment.