Poisoning Pigeons In The Park

Album: An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer (1959)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was one of many songs discussed in the first episode of a short BBC Radio 4 series Taboo Be Doo which was broadcast in June 2011. Written and performed by Tom Lehrer, the presenter's view was that Lehrer was able to get away with this in an age when the censor was a lot busier and more powerful than today because of its ludicrous lyrical dissonance, which might be compared with the Frank Zappa track "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?"
  • "Poisoning Pigeons In The Park" is a jaunty love song of sorts with deliberately awkward lyrics performed by Lehrer accompanying himself at the piano. Alas, he had to include that horrible grammatical error "try and hide" which can be found in numerous, and far more edifying songs, such as "Rocky Mountain High." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 1

  • Karen from Manchester, NhTom Lehrer had a ton of great songs; I'm amazed that there are only 5 listed here in "Songfacts"! A few that I remember just off the top of my head are "The Masochism Tango", "The Vatican Rag" and "New Math"!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Tanita Tikaram

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.