Tom Lehrer - Songs by Tom Lehrer (1953)

"Be Prepared" by Tom Lehrer


Both Dr. Roger S. Payne and musical satirist Tom Lehrer graduated from Harvard.  Lehrer, in fact, graduated with an AB in mathematics by the age of 19 in 1946 and an MA degree the year after.  In his time not spent studying, Tom would write humorous, satirical songs to entertain his friends.  He would extend these private revues to playing local nightclubs to great appreciation while still teaching mathematics at Harvard, MIT, and Wellesley.  Encouraged by the positive feedback, Lehrer would record an independent album Songs by Tom Lehrer in 1953 and sell it locally around Harvard.  His songs did not get any radio airplay, however, because of the delicate and risque subject matters they covered.  Still, his music grew in popularity through word-of-mouth and was spread out enough to warrant concert tours.

Here is the discography surrounding Tom Lehrer's debut album:

Songs by Tom Lehrer

"National Brotherhood Week" and "When You Are Old and Gray" by Tom Lehrer


"The Irish Ballad" by Tom Lehrer


"I Wanna Go Back to Dixie" by Tom Lehrer

"I Hold Your Hand in Mine" by Tom Lehrer

Pass the Headphones!!