Marianne Kirby (The Rotund)Dec 16, 2022

Oh, wow, Tom Lehrer has released all of his songs into the public domain. Apparently also his website will shut down "at some date in the not too distant future" so now's a good time to download directly.

"In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs.
So help yourselves, and don’t send me any money."

https://tomlehrersongs.com/

Songs and Lyrics by Tom Lehrer

Songs and Lyrics by Tom Lehrer DISCLAIMER STATEMENTI, Tom Lehrer, individually and as trustee of the

Tom Lehrer Songs
Show threadDaniel Solis
@therotund The Jonas Salk of our time.
o7
Dec 16, 2022 at 6:29pmWeb
Show threadMarianne Kirby (The Rotund)Dec 16, 2022
@DanielSolis I have to tell you, I'm still laughing at this because I had to pause for a moment like...LIGHTBULB. It's been a long week. 😆
Show threadDaniel SolisDec 16, 2022
@therotund I wasn't certain anyone would catch my meaning, so thanks for this. :D
Show threadJohn MiddletonDec 17, 2022

@DanielSolis @therotund

I couldn’t think how googling Salk and Lehrer at the same time would help, then BOOM it hit me. Well done. 👍

Show threadOldAndCrankyDec 22, 2022
@jdmiddleton55 @DanielSolis @therotund and now I feel stupid because it's not hitting me. And I've committed most of Lehrer's stuff to (my rapidly failing) memory.
Show threadDaniel SolisDec 22, 2022

@OldAndCranky @jdmiddleton55 @therotund

No worries! So here's the joke explained:

Asked why he didn't patent the polio vaccine, Jonas Salk is quoted saying "Could you patent the Sun?"

So the joke equates that to Tom Lehrer releasing his work to the public domain.

(Of course the real reason why Salk didn't file a patent is more complicated and less fun, but that'd ruin the joke.)

Show threadOldAndCrankyDec 22, 2022
@DanielSolis @jdmiddleton55 @therotund Ah. Ok. Very good then. I chuckled. Thanks!
Show threadMarianne Kirby (The Rotund)Dec 22, 2022
@DanielSolis @OldAndCranky @jdmiddleton55 I think it's also notable that Salk was a virologist - and Lehrer was, in effect, creating viral memes for the 1950s. *laugh* LAYERS OF MEANING!
Show threadOldAndCrankyDec 22, 2022
@therotund @DanielSolis @jdmiddleton55 hah! Tom Lehrer and Jean Shepherd were the voices of my childhood. Which explains much.
Show threadKristinDec 17, 2022
@DanielSolis @therotund amen!