Martin, he wrote "That's Mathematics" in 1993, long after Kissinger's Nobel prize, to the tune of "That's Entertainment," perhaps moved by the Wiles proof of Fermat.

It's a shame, though, that he largely lost interest in writing any more songs, or possibly lost the mojo that allowed him to write them. I simply don't buy the jokey explanation that he "chose" not to write any more because Kissinger won the Nobel Prize. Like there was nothing to satire since then, right?

Bob,
of course you are right, it is a joke; he just lost his inspiration,
I guess. I have seen the wonderful video of his for Kaplansky's birthday
where he plays "That's mathematics" among other things, but I thought
that most of those compositions are older; he just added a verse for
Wiles.

Christmas time is here by golly
disapproval would be folly...

Martin

p.s. Check it out: http://www.archive.org/details/lehrer (nerd warning)

p.p.s Another link for Lehrer fans: http://www.casualhacker.net/tom.lehr.../lehrhtml.html



[This message has been edited by Martin Rocek (edited December 17, 2007).]

Martin, by the way, Lehrer was not the only singer-songwriter than Kaplansky hung out with. His daughter, Lucy Kaplansky, is a very fine singer-songwriter herself, and has pushed on despite the follies of the Nobel committee.

Martin,
Yes I do know Clementine and I agree with him about Kissinger's Peace Prize.
Janet

And don't forget the one about the nuclear arms race (still eerily relevant), "Who's Next?":

"We'll try to stay serene and calm
when Alabama gets the bomb"

So delighted that you started this.
I loved Lehrer's political songs, but also the morbid nonpolitical ones like the Irish Ballad, and this one that we used to sing at drunken parties in New Orleans:

I hold your hand in mine, dear,
I press it to my lips.
I take a healthy bite of
Your dainty fingertips.
My joy would be complete, dear,
If you were only here,
But still I keep your hand
As a precious souvenir.

The night you died I cut it off,
I really don't know why,
For now each time I kiss it
I get blood stains on my tie.
I'm sorry now I killed you,
For our love was something fine.
Until they come to get me,
I will hold your hand in mine.