axonsandsynapses

I will never understand why Tom Lehrer is not a massive thing on tumblr.

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sci-fantasy:

lauraannegilman:

thecrackintheteacup:

For anyone who doesn’t know, Tom Lehrer was a Harvard mathematics lecturer who did musical satire in his spare time during the 50s and 60s.

He’s basically a lyrical genius: ridiculously clever and funny and awesome.

His songs cover pretty much every topic imaginable as well, from the political (the atomic bomb and world war three) to social issues (tolerance, drugs, homosexuality and religion) to environental issues (pollution and animal welfare) to the macabre and the kinky (masochism, necrophilia and dirty novels). And all in a tongue-in-cheek, amazingly still relevant way.

Tom Lehrer fandom, where you at?

(Party at my place.  Bring the cheap jug wine and a couple-dozen pizzas)

In the filk and dementia communities, where we’ve always been.

(Jug wine hell, I’m bringing Tully.)

cc: @filkyeahfilk

Hey followers, who would like us to do a series of Tom Lehrer posts?

Railway to Hogwarts – Jeff and Maya Bohnhoff

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There’s a young man who lived
In a hole ‘neath the stairs
Now he’s riding the railway to Hogwarts. 

Lyrics available on Bandcamp.

Rosemary and Rue – Brooke vs. John

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Rosemary and rue, rosemary and rue
By cut grass and copper, just this can I offer
A lonely bouquet of rosemary and rue. 

“Rosemary & Rue” by Brooke Abbey, based on the book of same title by Seanan McGuire.

Lyrics (and chords!) available on Bandcamp.

Save the World – specialagentartemis

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specialagentartemis:

Save the World – a filk song for MGS4

They’re asking

Come back, save this world

Just one more time

For your honor, for your girl,

Come save the world

I‘ve had this tune in my head for months – no idea if I actually came up with it, or stole it, or what, but I’ve been trying to put lyrics to it for ages without much success.

Then I thought “What do I have a lot of passion about?” and the answer as always is Metal Gear Solid.  The lyrics wrote themselves in a single afternoon.

I have… lots of feelings about MGS4.

 

[for @mgswintergames, specialagentartemis of team Diamond Dogs, for O13]

Takin’ Our Words Away – Tom Smith

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ladypoetess:

This is a straight-up protest song, spurred by the Trump Administration’s decree that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not allowed to use certain words in any documents pertaining to the agency’s budget ( goo.gl/35oBLX ).

lyrics
The ones in charge are livin large,
You might say they have a dream:
They rule the world, but still want all the money,
And no tactic’s too extreme.
They don’t care for our people or laws,
New outrages every day,
And just so you know, there’s a brand new low –
They’re taking our words away.

They make a big point of sayin’ this is just for
Discussion of the budget for the fiscal year.
But if they take one word, four words, seven words,
What makes you think that they’re gonna stop here?
Only allowed and approved information,
Even if it happens to be false and wrong
You think that chemistry, physics, biology,
You think the whole world is gonna go along?

The science doesn’t care,
The universe doesn’t care,
The government doesn’t care,
Where do we go from there?

Transgender fetus entitlement diversity vulnerable evidence- and science-based.
Not letting us discuss reality, keeping us ignorant, in our place.
Stay far away from the real agenda, cutting off our noses to spite their face.
Transgender fetus entitlement diversity vulnerable evidence- and science-based.

Takin’ our words away,
Takin’ our words away,
How long till there’s nothing left to say,
Takin’ our words away.

Denying science, ignoring evidence
Won’t make an oil pipeline un-spill.
Calling a fetus a baby doesn’t give it
Any health care when the mom falls ill.
Diversity just means people are different,
The great American melting pot,
Being transgender just means feeling in your
Heart that you’re something they say you’re not.

People moralize,
See through fanatic’s eyes,
Use God to bolster lies,
Why are you so surprised?

(transgender fetus entitlement diversity vulnerable evidence- and science-based)

Takin’ our words away,
Takin’ our words away,
How long till there’s nothing left to say,
Takin’ our words away.

Takin’ our words away,
Takin’ our words away,
How long till there’s nothing left to say,
Takin’ our words away.

All of the masters have brought disaster,
Listenin to the ravings of a crazy clown.
They’re already rich, so they think they
Deserve all the money that’s layin’ around.
Entitlement sounds like somethin’ for nothin’,
But all you’re entitled to is tricklin’ down.
They want to take We The People to the bathtub
And hold us under until we drown.

They tell you what to hate,
They tell you who to fear,
But I swear it’s not too late
To sing out loud and clear.

Transgender fetus entitlement diversity vulnerable evidence- and science-based,
Not letting us discuss reality, don’t let the opposition make their case.
Misogyny, bigotry, money, supremacy, all it’s gonna cost is the human race.
Transgender fetus entitlement diversity vulnerable evidence- and science-based.

Takin’ our words away,
Takin’ our words away,
How long till there’s nothing left to say,
Takin’ our words away.

Takin’ our words away,
Takin’ our words away,
Nothing left to say….

released February 4, 2018
image nicked from Science March Seattle, twitter.com/scimarchseattle

 

Wings of Human Knowledge – Echo’s Children

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There are wings of flesh and feather, there are wings of bone and leather
There are wings of painted paper pinned to polished wooden spars
But wings of force and fire never falter, never tire
And the wings of human knowledge span the void between the stars.

Lyrics available on Bandcamp.

Take it Back – Kathleen Sloan

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“Take it Back” by Kathleen Sloan, the official opening song of Filk Ontario and an anthem for filkers and creators everywhere. Lyrics are available on the Filk Ontario website.

The song was inspired by Barry & Sally Childs-Helton’s acceptance speech to the Filk Hall of Fame about communities of creativity and filk as a space where we are all welcome to participate.

As Kathleen sums up in the last verse,

Welcome to our diverse little clan
Don’t worry you’re not good enough, come grow with us
We’ll help you with your melody, we’ll catch you if you trip and fall
We’ll celebrate the art you choose to share with the world

Scattering Seeds on the Pomegranate Tour – Dr. Mary Crowell

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Dr. Mary Crowell describes the song as “a mythological girl band and support staff go on a cosmic tour,” and if that isn’t enough to make you want to give it a listen, I don’t know what to tell you.

Lyrics available on Bandcamp.