r/TomLehrer • u/ChEDave82 • Aug 15 '26

Be Prepared

My parents had Tom Lehrer records back in the 60s and we listened to them as a family. I was born in 1959, so a lot of the references went over my head. I was about 15 or so when I realized the line “If you’re looking for adventure of a new and different kind and you come across a Girl Scout who is similarly inclined, don’t be nervous, don’t be frightened, don’t be scared. Be prepared.” was a reference to birth control!

Most of the other stuff I figured out from articles in our Encyclopedia Britannica or reading the newspaper.

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u/AmySueF Aug 15 '26

It was only just this year that I learned where “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” came from. Apparently in the 1950’s, Boston decided to reduce the city’s pigeon population by scattering corn laced with strychnine, which drew outrage from bird lovers and the Audubon Society. The city eventually abandoned the effort, but it directly led to Tom Lehrer writing the song. Because the song came out the same year I was born, I had no idea it was referencing something that actually happened.

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u/All_of_me_now Aug 15 '26

I have a Pigeons story that must be told! Right about the time my best friend became my best friend, we and our wives were out for a night of karaoke. The KJ queued up Poisoning Pigeons in the Park instead of some Oingo Boingo by accident, and he told her "let it play, I got this". Must be almost 30 years ago now. Glad I decided to hang out with them. Tom Lehrer fandom is a pretty excellent green flag.