For more Tom Lehrer click on the name, and enter The Tom Lehrer Audio Fun Channel, or click on this link, and enter 6funswede`s Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel.
@@user-pq5ux6ip4i EXACTLY! To us too, in Morocco, $26000 a year is like double what a teacher can possibly make. A veteran teacher makes about $12000, at the end of his career, here.
"I spoke no Russian (and still speak none), and it was Munro Edmonson who taught me (phonetically) the Russian phrase I used in 'Lobachevsky' regarding going where even the Tsar goes on foot. The first phrase was the first line of Mussorgsky's Song of the Flea, with which I was already familiar and which Ed taught me how to pronounce. It means 'once there was a king who had a pet flea.' The second says 'now I go where even the Tsar goes on foot.' A reference... to the bathroom." --Tom Lehrer
He was talking about analytic and algebraic topology of locally Euclidean metrization of infinitely differentiable Riemannian manifolds, not parametrization, Боже мой!
It would be a perfect plan to stea-to adapt this song and preceding routine at local comedy gigs. Those who don't know Tom Lehrer would find it funny, and those who do would see the comic value in plagiarising a routine about plagiarism.
I've listened to "Lobachevsky" many, many times, yet this is the first time I noticed Lehrer saying, "And I thought it would be interesting to ste-- er, to adapt this idea to the field of mathematics."
@MEpianist "жил-был король когда-то, при нём блоха жила" - "there once was a king; a flea lived with him" (a song) "я иду куда сам царь идёт пешком" - "I'm going [to the place] where czar himself walks to" (toilet)
Am I the only one around here, whom: "...a friend in Minsk who has a friend in Pinsk whose friend in Omsk has friend in Tomsk with friend in Akmolinsk and his friend in Alexandrovsk has friend in Petropavlosk and his friend somehow is solving now the problem in Dnepropetrovsk..." makes think of Erdos number?
Tom Lehrer apparently chose the name lobachevsky simply for how it sounded and worked with the song, and specifically said that the song was not meant to harm lobachevsky’s reputation or accuse him of plagiarism.
That Plagiarism verse is so good!: Plagorise, let no one elses work evade your eyes, Remember why the good lord made your eyes, so don't shade your eyes, but Plagorise Plagorise Plagorise
@@theq4602 Since he says in the intro that it's a "possibly recognizable tune," i.e. he starts out by saying that he didn't write the music, one has to wonder who these "people" are.
"...analytic and algebraic topology of locally euclidean metrization of infinite differential for riemannian manifold BOZHE MOJ!" xD that guy is awesome
@MultiGeraghty Wikipedia says he taught his last maths class in 2001, on the topic of infinity, and retired. He has remained in the area, and still "hangs out" around the University of California
I plagiarized the lyrics: For many years now, Mr. Danny Kaye, who has been my particular idol since childbirth, has been doing a routine about the great Russian director Stanislavsky and the secret of success in the acting profession. And I thought it would be interesting to st... to adapt this idea to the field of mathematics. I always like to make explicit the fact that before I went off not too long ago to fight in the trenches, I was a mathematician by profession. I don't like people to get the idea that I have to do this for a living. I mean, it isn't as though I had to do this, you know, I could be making, oh, 3000 dollars a year just teaching. Be that as it may, some of you may have had occasion to run into mathematicians and to wonder therefore how they got that way, and here, in partial explanation perhaps, is the story of the great Russian mathematician Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky.* Who made me the genius I am today, The mathematician that others all quote? Who's the professor that made me that way, The greatest that ever got chalk on his coat? One man deserves the credit, One man deserves the blame, and Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy! Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache... I am never forget the day I first meet the great Lobachevsky. In one word he told me secret of success in mathematics: Plagiarize! Plagiarize, Let no one else's work evade your eyes, Remember why the good Lord made your eyes, So don't shade your eyes, But plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize... Only be sure always to call it please, "research". And ever since I meet this man my life is not the same, And Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy! Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache... I am never forget the day I am given first original paper to write. It was on Analytic and Algebraic Topology of Locally Euclidean Metrization of Infinitely Differentiable Riemannian Manifold. Bozhe moi! This I know from nothing.** But I think of great Lobachevsky and I get idea - haha! I have a friend in Minsk, Who has a friend in Pinsk, Whose friend in Omsk Has friend in Tomsk With friend in Akmolinsk. His friend in Alexandrovsk Has friend in Petropavlovsk, Whose friend somehow Is solving now The problem in Dnepropetrovsk. And when his work is done - Haha! - begins the fun. From Dnepropetrovsk To Petropavlovsk, By way of Iliysk, And Novorossiysk, To Alexandrovsk to Akmolinsk To Tomsk to Omsk To Pinsk to Minsk To me the news will run, Yes, to me the news will run! And then I write By morning, night, And afternoon, And pretty soon My name in Dnepropetrovsk is cursed, When he finds out I published first! And who made me a big success And brought me wealth and fame? Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy! Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache... I am never forget the day my first book is published. Every chapter I stole from somewhere else. Index I copy from old Vladivostok telephone directory. This book, this book was sensational!*** Pravda - ah, Pravda - Pravda said: "Jeel beel kara ogoday blyum blocha jeli, " ("It stinks"). But Izvestia! Izvestia said: "Jai, do gudoo sun sai pere shcum, " ("It stinks"). Metro-Goldwyn-Moskva bought the movie rights for six million rubles, Changing title to 'The Eternal Triangle', With Brigitte Bardot playing part of hypotenuse.**** And who deserves the credit? And who deserves the blame? Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy!
So in real life did Tom Lehrer ever write a research paper on a analytic and algebraeic topology of locally Euclidean metrization of infinitely differentiable Reimannian manifold?
I'd heard of Tom Lehrer and knew his reputation, but never actually heard his stuff. Now I have, I can only say that nothing had prepared me for how smart, funny and incisive he is.
+Stephen Woods No, there is no letter "H" in the Cyrillic alphabet. The sound Lehrer makes here is "X," which is pronounced like the "ch" in the Scots "loch" or in the German Bach or the Iranian Komeini. That's the closest Russian sound to our "h" (and is what Russians often use instead of an "h" when speaking English) but it definitely ISN'T an "h".
He doesn't, this song is merely a joke. The reason it is funny is that Lobachevskys greatest achievement was also (independently) discovered by other mathematicians at the same time. Lehrer merely picked Lobachevsky's name because it fit the song well.
It wasn't meant to call Lobachevsky a plagiarist, the name was chosen for comedic effect. In other words, he used it because it flowed right, not to slander the mathematician.
Hey! Don't criticize, just enjoy. Lehrer's insights into academic life (and life in general) remain brilliant. From one who at least thinks she knows a great deal about this.
Tycker om denna version med de inledande kommentarerna om läraryrket! "I could be making, oh, 3.000 dollars a year just teaching." Kommentaren om att han beundrat Danny Kaye (stor amerikansk komiker) sedan barndomen handlar väl om att Kaye var väldigt gammal men ännu håller igång.
+twistedlot About 1965. On the other hand, you could buy a house in Cambridge Mass for about $10,000 and a years tuition at Harvard was about 2,000.00.
I am AMAZED he was a mathematician/scientist by day, and an entertaining satirist by night. What talent!!
And, when he wasn't in public, teaching in class on weekdays, he went out for walks on weekends, poisoning pigeons in the park.
He still is alive... 5/1/2022
He's still kicking as of 10/13/2023.
I found him in my parents album collection. Incredible hard on 4:20
$3000 is about $26,000 in 2019 money. I guess teachers have always been underpaid
Yep!
Not just a teacher but a professor at Harvard
Duh
Urgh, are y'all serious? If teachers in my country got $26000 (~2 million rubles) a year this would be a huge improvement.
@@user-pq5ux6ip4i EXACTLY! To us too, in Morocco, $26000 a year is like double what a teacher can possibly make. A veteran teacher makes about $12000, at the end of his career, here.
Pianist, satirist, mathematician. This man was beyond brilliant.
Correction: This man IS beyond brilliant.
Is*
You forgot to mention: plagiarist!
Not was... he turned 96 today (April 9, 2024)
He's still alive!!
"I spoke no Russian (and still speak none), and it was Munro Edmonson who taught me (phonetically) the Russian phrase I used in 'Lobachevsky' regarding going where even the Tsar goes on foot. The first phrase was the first line of Mussorgsky's Song of the Flea, with which I was already familiar and which Ed taught me how to pronounce. It means 'once there was a king who had a pet flea.' The second says 'now I go where even the Tsar goes on foot.' A reference... to the bathroom." --Tom Lehrer
and it works in context because the bathroom does stink!
Nine people don't understand analytic and algebraic topology of locally Euclidean parameterization of infinitely differentiable Riemannian manifolds.
Borzhamoi!
Maybe someone should write a book about it.
He was talking about analytic and algebraic topology of locally Euclidean metrization of infinitely differentiable Riemannian manifolds, not parametrization, Боже мой!
> nine people 😀
Fifty-one people in Dnepropetrovsk found out that someone else published first.
He taught a class called “the nature of mathematics “ for non math majors. Bet that class would have been awesome.
Gods that would have been amazing.
Such a shame it wasn't recorded.
A song that never stops being topical.
It would be a perfect plan to stea-to adapt this song and preceding routine at local comedy gigs. Those who don't know Tom Lehrer would find it funny, and those who do would see the comic value in plagiarising a routine about plagiarism.
The best kind of meta.
Thats the best idea I've had all day.
You realize, of course, that this is exactly what Lehrer himself did? Of course you do. Circular references are the best kind of references.
Beautiful
@@DeyaViews what is meta? TIA
To copy from another is plagiarism.
To copy from more than one is research.
(From the old academic jokes home)
Where did you research this quote from?;)
@@clanso7887 It is a very old, and true, saying.
Indeed :)
It is ok if I use it? and call it my own....;)
@@tealc6218 Go ahead my friend!
I've listened to "Lobachevsky" many, many times, yet this is the first time I noticed Lehrer saying, "And I thought it would be interesting to ste-- er, to adapt this idea to the field of mathematics."
I was studying Russian at UCSC when he was a professor of mathematics there. I had no idea. He was not known there beyond mathematics.
@MEpianist
"жил-был король когда-то, при нём блоха жила" - "there once was a king; a flea lived with him" (a song)
"я иду куда сам царь идёт пешком" - "I'm going [to the place] where czar himself walks to" (toilet)
Lobachevsky been real quiet since this dropped
He's waiting for someone to response to similar criticism.
Lobachevsky died in 1856 and hasn't published anything since then.
@@rabbi120348 diss so vicious it reached back in time and killed Lobachevsky
Am I the only one around here, whom:
"...a friend in Minsk who has a friend in Pinsk whose friend in Omsk has friend in Tomsk with friend in Akmolinsk and his friend in Alexandrovsk has friend in Petropavlosk and his friend somehow is solving now the problem in Dnepropetrovsk..."
makes think of Erdos number?
Evidently.
I cannot unthink this now.
0
Exactly...Erdös number of 6 or so.
such a damn catchy tune.
Courtesy of Kurt Weill from Lady In The Dark (1941), a Broadway musical that featured the heroine undergoing psychiatric treatment.
"Who has been my particular idol since childbirth"
I'll have to remember that one
I dont care if Lobachevsky has been vindicated of plagiarism. Its still a great song.
Rob Hoffman I'm unaware that he was ever accused of it, really. It is indeed a great song.
Rob Hoffman It's not plagiarism, it's _research_.
+Rob Hoffman
According to Lehrer, he chose Lobachevsky just for artistic reasons.
+Rob Hoffman Lobachevsky was never accused of plagiarism, the name just gives a nice ring to the song
Tom Lehrer apparently chose the name lobachevsky simply for how it sounded and worked with the song, and specifically said that the song was not meant to harm lobachevsky’s reputation or accuse him of plagiarism.
When he said "hhhhhypotenuse!" I lost it.
It's great how he came up with so many great phrases that rhyme plagiarize
Love the way he brings musical themes into it. Doubles the fun! HEY! lol
Well seeing as the music starts before the lyrics, I’d say it doesn’t double the fun, it begins the fun.
the Liszt tho
That Plagiarism
verse is so good!: Plagorise, let no one elses work evade your eyes, Remember why the good lord made your eyes, so don't shade your eyes, but Plagorise Plagorise Plagorise
Oddly enough people think he wrote the tune to the element song (NOPE ITS A PARODY).
+stephen bredin *Plagiarize.
Sorry, don't kill me please.
@@theq4602 Since he says in the intro that it's a "possibly recognizable tune," i.e. he starts out by saying that he didn't write the music, one has to wonder who these "people" are.
i love 'research'
achillesRising, the Knight of Rage
hey AR, I'm
lepiosDarkness, the Bard of Light
crash periodic mage of mind!!
.... one of the funniest and most original creative geniuses we've had the pleasure of hearing in our lifetimes!
Комик, сатирик, музыкант и математик - гений!
"...analytic and algebraic topology of locally euclidean metrization of infinite differential for riemannian manifold BOZHE MOJ!" xD that guy is awesome
BOZHE MOJ translates to MY GOD.
@MultiGeraghty Wikipedia says he taught his last maths class in 2001, on the topic of infinity, and retired. He has remained in the area, and still "hangs out" around the University of California
Wonderful. Just wonderful.
Tom Lehrer was able to predict the means by which Claudine Gay became President of Harvard.
She remembered why the good Lord made her eyes!
I plagiarized the lyrics:
For many years now, Mr. Danny Kaye, who has been my particular idol since childbirth, has been doing a routine about the great Russian director Stanislavsky and the secret of success in the acting profession. And I thought it would be interesting to st... to adapt this idea to the field of mathematics. I always like to make explicit the fact that before I went off not too long ago to fight in the trenches, I was a mathematician by profession. I don't like people to get the idea that I have to do this for a living. I mean, it isn't as though I had to do this, you know, I could be making, oh, 3000 dollars a year just teaching.
Be that as it may, some of you may have had occasion to run into mathematicians and to wonder therefore how they got that way, and here, in partial explanation perhaps, is the story of the great Russian mathematician Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky.*
Who made me the genius I am today,
The mathematician that others all quote?
Who's the professor that made me that way,
The greatest that ever got chalk on his coat?
One man deserves the credit,
One man deserves the blame,
and Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy!
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache...
I am never forget the day I first meet the great Lobachevsky.
In one word he told me secret of success in mathematics: Plagiarize!
Plagiarize,
Let no one else's work evade your eyes,
Remember why the good Lord made your eyes,
So don't shade your eyes,
But plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize...
Only be sure always to call it please, "research".
And ever since I meet this man my life is not the same,
And Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy!
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache...
I am never forget the day I am given first original paper to write. It
was on Analytic and Algebraic Topology of Locally Euclidean Metrization
of Infinitely Differentiable Riemannian Manifold.
Bozhe moi!
This I know from nothing.**
But I think of great Lobachevsky and I get idea - haha!
I have a friend in Minsk,
Who has a friend in Pinsk,
Whose friend in Omsk
Has friend in Tomsk
With friend in Akmolinsk.
His friend in Alexandrovsk
Has friend in Petropavlovsk,
Whose friend somehow
Is solving now
The problem in Dnepropetrovsk.
And when his work is done -
Haha! - begins the fun.
From Dnepropetrovsk
To Petropavlovsk,
By way of Iliysk,
And Novorossiysk,
To Alexandrovsk to Akmolinsk
To Tomsk to Omsk
To Pinsk to Minsk
To me the news will run,
Yes, to me the news will run!
And then I write
By morning, night,
And afternoon,
And pretty soon
My name in Dnepropetrovsk is cursed,
When he finds out I published first!
And who made me a big success
And brought me wealth and fame?
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy!
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache...
I am never forget the day my first book is published.
Every chapter I stole from somewhere else.
Index I copy from old Vladivostok telephone directory.
This book, this book was sensational!***
Pravda - ah, Pravda - Pravda said:
"Jeel beel kara ogoday blyum blocha jeli, " ("It stinks").
But Izvestia! Izvestia said:
"Jai, do gudoo sun sai pere shcum, " ("It stinks").
Metro-Goldwyn-Moskva bought the movie rights for six million rubles,
Changing title to 'The Eternal Triangle',
With Brigitte Bardot playing part of hypotenuse.****
And who deserves the credit?
And who deserves the blame?
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name.
Oy!
This is going to be in my head forever.
It's been in mine for more than sixty years. Once heard, Tom Lehrer songs are not easily forgotten.
My college rommate nearly drove me crazy singing this song!
He is in a class by himself. No one will ever reach his level of brilliance.
So in real life did Tom Lehrer ever write a research paper on a analytic and algebraeic topology of locally Euclidean metrization of infinitely differentiable Reimannian manifold?
This comment deserves more than one like
Bozhe moi!
I don’t know but he was considered a math genius. Started his studies at Harvard at age 14.
I'd heard of Tom Lehrer and knew his reputation, but never actually heard his stuff. Now I have, I can only say that nothing had prepared me for how smart, funny and incisive he is.
"With Bridget Bardot playing part of KKKKKKKKKKHYpotenuse."
Yuuichi Productions Is that intentional?
+Nick Nirus Yes, the letter H in the Cyrillic alphabet is pronounced like a cross between X and H, He is just slightly exaggerating.
Stephen Woods Hm, yeah, that does sound like a Russian H.
+Stephen Woods No, there is no letter "H" in the Cyrillic alphabet. The sound Lehrer makes here is "X," which is pronounced like the "ch" in the Scots "loch" or in the German Bach or the Iranian Komeini. That's the closest Russian sound to our "h" (and is what Russians often use instead of an "h" when speaking English) but it definitely ISN'T an "h".
DieFlabbergast I’m pretty sure he was saying that the sound was the equivalent to “h,” as he acknowledged the different alphabet.
2:24 when you assign all of your operatives to building an intel network in the Soviet Union
Absolutely wonderful -- it's been too long since I've heard this song! Thank you so much.
@producer111 Lehrer stated that the song is no slight against Lobachevsky and his name was chosen only because it fit well into the song
He doesn't, this song is merely a joke. The reason it is funny is that Lobachevskys greatest achievement was also (independently) discovered by other mathematicians at the same time. Lehrer merely picked Lobachevsky's name because it fit the song well.
I love this guy!!!
So looking forward to playing this inmy comedy seminar at university. I honestly can't wait to see my teacher's expression when she hears it...
Dnepropetrovsk loves Tom ^^
Somehow this song became the namesake of my pet rabbit.
Give nicholi Ivanovic loberchevski a hug for me
Brilliant, just brilliant.
This such a great homage to Danny Kaye.
Just started watching Lehrer, and he really reminds me of him.
Tom Lehrer loved Danny Kaye and got this from one of Danny's greatest routines.
It wasn't meant to call Lobachevsky a plagiarist, the name was chosen for comedic effect. In other words, he used it because it flowed right, not to slander the mathematician.
Oh yes. It's like "I say to everyone that you are a liar but I don't mean that you a liar". Many people after listening to that song believed it.
Creative teacher, this is which I call it funny creative soul ♥
Long time watcher, first time commenter.
I love the intro.
This had me rolling! XD
did he just say "Bože moj?" :D
Yes, but in Russian.
Hey! Don't criticize, just enjoy. Lehrer's insights into academic life (and life in general) remain brilliant. From one who at least thinks she knows a great deal about this.
amazing
A Legend!
@producer111:
Apparently it's not meant to be an allegation, Lehrer's on record as saying he chose the name basically because it fit the rhythm.
This guy did nerd comedy decades before it was cool.
a true genius.///
The only current performer close to this guy is Tim Minchin.
Bo Burnham is also similar
Yeah, I think Tim and Bo might make a funny collab
But there's also the chance they might fight off stage XD
Check out Roy Zimmerman
I think bill bailey is a good modern equivalent
Ah, analytical algebraic topology of locally euclidean metrizations of infinitely differential riemannian manifolds. I totes aced that one.
@mabarry3 More than brilliant and still a reflection of present-day "Academia". From one who knows.
Good humor.
Yes, I have the mp4 on file.
Bozhe Mojj!
Haha, begins the fun xD
@TnseWlms
No. He did publish some stuff on probability theory, though.
genius
1:05 Skip to the song!
But the opening monologue is funny...
Bro, why you gotta be so cruel?
+Beren Elendil No his lead-ins are funny in and of themselves.
every chapter i stolled from somewhere elese.:))))
A classic.
I guess Melania learned something from Lobachevsky too!
Free Melania!
@@leifvejby8023 I'll take two thanks.
@mabarry3 It's not BORJEMOR its BOZHE MOI which means "Oh my God" :DDD
Tycker om denna version med de inledande kommentarerna om läraryrket! "I could be making, oh, 3.000 dollars a year just teaching." Kommentaren om att han beundrat Danny Kaye (stor amerikansk komiker) sedan barndomen handlar väl om att Kaye var väldigt gammal men ännu håller igång.
this i know from nothing but i think of great lobachevsky and i get idea HAHA
Good artists copy
Great artists steal
Wish I could say, "Totally fucking brilliant" and have it say under my nick...
47 years ago
:-P
Dave.
$3,000 in 1965 would be $20,000 in 2009. Good ole inflation!
Is there no version of this with a video?
Look here - I seem to remember him playing that number in Copenhagen. But it is some time ago, so - -
But take a look!
Well, it is similar to Newton and Leibnitz and the Calculus. Lobachevsky's is the sphere, Gauss the saddle.
Tom Lehrer was a genius
@doctorwhom1 and where does leher fit into that ????????
you ve right! its Boje moi :)
no idea what he is talking about, but i want to know.
Just realised he made a joke about teachers not being payed enough in 1960.
the more things change, the more they stay the same!
Those curves would be wasted on a triangle.
@5ive23 you mean Phlem-potenuse ?
WICKED FUNNY!
what type of song would this be? like the russian tune
It borrows from Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 - a little musical plagiarism to add to the joke
@@cantankerousharridan Liszt himself was known for doing 'fantasies' on other people's melodies - so the joke increases.
@ffwrchamotobeics Is Tom Lehrer still around? Maybe teaching as Lehrer I think is German word for teacher. (or is it reader?)
RIP Mark Russell
only be sue always to call it please......research!!!!!
'i could make 3000 dollars a year just teaching'
I love Tom Lehrer, but i do feel like Danny Kaye outcomedied him on this one. The timing of that guy was just of the highest level
$3000 a year from teaching? What year was this?
+twistedlot roughly $26'000 in todays dollars
+twistedlot About 1965. On the other hand, you could buy a house in Cambridge Mass for about $10,000 and a years tuition at Harvard was about 2,000.00.
This was recorded at Harvard in March, 1959.
@doctorwhom1 he's "adapting" :-P
There are still the few exceptions out there.
thinks*
aye
Since childbirth.
@TnseWlms, does it matter?
Fucking owned.