Talk:Tom Lehrer

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On 24 October 2020, Tom Lehrer was linked from Slashdot, a high-traffic website. (Traffic)

All prior and subsequent edits to the article are noted in its revision history.

All works in public domain

Tom Lehrer has released his works into the public domain. See notice at

https://tomlehrersongs.com/

Blue Rasberry (talk) 20:19, 20 October 2020 (UTC)[reply]

@Bluerasberry: fantastic news. Who's next? SamHolt6 (talk) 20:33, 20 October 2020 (UTC)[reply]

@SamHolt6: I cannot think of another artist like Tom Lehrer who started giving their artistic collection to the world in this way. I also am wondering whether Tom Lehrer will actually release audio recordings.

As for what is next, Public Domain Day has more to do every year along with WP:Wikipedia Day around the same time. Next year is everything in the United States from 1925, except recorded music. Blue Rasberry (talk) 23:25, 20 October 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Does anyone have a verification for this website and disclaimer statement actually being by Tom Lehrer? It’s making the rounds on Twitter (e. g. Cory Doctorow), but so far the only source I’ve seen is the website itself, which in theory could’ve been put up by anyone. (Also, the Internet Archive has a March 2020 capture with the same statement.) --Lucas Werkmeister (talk) 23:46, 20 October 2020 (UTC)[reply]

I know this info will be exactly opposite Wikipedia's definitions of reliability ... but, FWIW, just to set people's minds at rest and encourage someone else to find the "reliable source": one of my best friends is very good friends with Lehrer (and she has never introduced me! Grr!). I will ask her to verify that the announcement was actually by him.

~ Dudley Brooks (talk) 05:36, 11 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I feel like this is a notable link to include, however a certain user is rolling back addition. Endated (talk) 14:22, 15 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

@Endated, I reverted it when you added tomlehrersongs.org. Try that link, see what that page is. Schazjmd (talk) 16:13, 15 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion:

Tom Lehrer in 1950s.jpg

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 20:08, 19 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I am very glad it was not deleted. It is essential history of the mid 20th century. Janice Vian, Ph.D. (talk) 21:48, 19 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Looks like it's gone, Ma'am. - Denimadept (talk) 04:17, 20 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

WP:RS regarding Tom Lehrer's work at the NSA?

It seems a bit out of place to be making this assertion with the reliable source being a SFWeekly article and self disclosure by Mr. Lehrer himself. I checked with ChatGPT regarding this question and ChatGPT was not able to find concrete evidence that he did work at the NSA.

That being said, I do know that at times truths are disclosed and recorded in history through verbal repetition. For example in Hindu culture history is often kept by Oral tradition. I've also seen this pattern in mathematics, specifically Cryptography in the pattern of a Cryptographic nonce.

I don't dare to make a change here, as I'm sure the editors of this page know the score. Just something for them to keep in mind, whether there is sufficient reliable sources here to assert this. Theheezy (talk) 02:05, 28 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I found this page from the NSA website showing a paper by Tom Lehrer (about math) https://www.nsa.gov/Helpful-Links/NSA-FOIA/Declassification-Transparency-Initiatives/Historical-Releases/ (7th from the top)

P.S. Don't use ChatGPT as a source of information. It's not a reliable source because it's a language model, which means it merely talks as if it's a human responding. It doesn't check if the info is correct or not, just if it resembles answers made by humans. This means ChatGPT will be correct on trivial things like the tallest mountain or what 1+1 is, but not about complex math problems or unpopular questions (For example, I asked it if Lehrer has any children, and it replied that he has a daughter while he doesn't) Mirnim0000 (talk) 08:40, 25 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Appearance on Hey, Mr. Producer

In the page, it says that he sang Poisoning Pigeons in the Park and an updated version of Who's Next?, but I can only find his performance of Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. Is there any proof of his performance of Who's Next? Mirnim0000 (talk) 08:58, 25 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

1972 McGovern Fundraiser, Cleveland Heights, OH bootleg recording

I'm apparently forbidden to upload this mp3 recording to Wikimedia. Anyone know how to get it done? Thanks.

Hpage66 (talk) 23:47, 3 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know why you can't upload an mp3. You could ask at WP:HELPDESK about technical issues. However, please don't attempt to upload a bootleg mp3 because copyright is strictly enforced at Wikipedia. Even links to copyright violations are prohibited (WP:COPYVIOEL). Johnuniq (talk) 02:44, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you, Johnuniqe. Yes it is a bootleg however Tom Lehrer has explicitly placed all his works in the public domain:

"All copyrights to lyrics or music written or composed by me have been permanently and irrevocably relinquished, and therefore such songs are now in the public domain. All of my songs that have never been copyrighted, having been available for free for so long, are now also in the public domain. In other words, I have abandoned, surrendered and disclaimed all right, title and interest in and to my work and have injected any and all copyrights into the public domain."

https://tomlehrersongs.com/disclaimer/ Hpage66 (talk) 05:09, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

That statement covers the compositions, but not performances. —Tamfang (talk) 23:24, 29 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Hpage66: You could try sending Lehrer a letter and ask if he is willing to give up his performance rights. His address isn't too hard to find on Google. FunnyMath (talk) 19:04, 11 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I Got It from Agnes

Re. the paragraph about Asimov, under Style and Influences: It's not "likely" "I Got It from Agnes" ... it's *obviously* "I Got It from Agnes":

I got it from Agnes.

She got it from Jim.

We all agree

That it must be

Louise who gave it to him.

And the rest of Asimov's statement is an accurate description of the rest of the song.

Dudley Brooks (talk) 05:45, 11 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]