UKC

Was sad when I saw this a few minutes ago, maybe unknown to younger users of UKC but, to me, he's still one of the best at humorous songs

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jul/28/tom-lehrer-dies-aged-97-dead-...

Also reminds me of Latvian colleague who I shared an office with for a couple of years who occassionaly would burst into song with classics such as Poisoning Pigeons in the Park or the Masochism Tango.

RIP.

He was brilliant, and reportedly gave up songwriting when Kissinger got the Nobel Peace Prize, which he described as the death of satire.

My university supervisor introduced me to his songs, she sat next to him on a transatlantic flight and said he was great company but she had no idea he was famous or anything about him until someone asked him for an autograph.

Sad news indeed. He was one of my favourite humorous song writers. Poisoning piegeons, Masochism tango, the elements (being one of my favourites) and the Irish folk song

Vatican Rag is possibly my favourite.

A very sad loss. One of my parents’ first dates was a concert he gave in Oxford.

jcm

Was sad to see the news, though you can't really complain at 97.

My first boss at the uni introduced me to his songs - so many that bring a smile, but I guess the Lobachevsky song, though I only think of it as the Plagiarism song, has to be one of my favourites. Perhaps inevitable given that academic integrity has been part of loads of academic roles I've held!

"We will all go together when we go ..."

Sad to see him go, although, as mentioned upthread, he did make it to 97. We had the Masochism Tango on the "stuff we'd like to play but won't" playlist for our wedding.

His songs were a delight indeed.

He may have been one of the cleverest and most multi-talented people that ever existed. Brilliant pianist, fabulous lyricist and humorist ... all the while holding down his day job as maths professor.

Extraordinary.

Sad news indeed; and he was in the prime of life!

well spotted

Sad, but as has been said, 97 is pretty good going. I suppose my claim to fame is having Poisoning Pigeons in the Park accepted on Radio 3's Morning Playlist years ago. Can't remember what the starter was though.

I just saw this..

LOL!!!