Introduction Songtext
von Tom Lehrer

I′d like to introduce now the featured artist of this evening's ordeal
I′m sure that you'll all agree without any hesitation
That Tom Lehrer is the most brilliant creative genius
That America has produced in almost 200 years
So perhaps a few words of biographical background might not be amiss


Endowed by nature with perhaps the most glorious baritone voice
To be heard on an American stage
Since the memorable concert debut in 1835 of Millard Fillmore
Endowed also with 12 incredibly agile fingers
Mr. Lehrer has had a long and varied
Career in the field of entertainment
Starting with 9 years at Harvard University
Where it was that he first decided to devote his life
To what has since become a rather successful scientific project
Namely, the attempt to prolong adolescence beyond all previous limits

Even before he came to Harvard, however
He was well known in academic circles
For his masterly translation into Latin of The Wizard of Oz
Which remains, even today, the standard Latin version of that work

A few years ago he was inducted, forcibly, into the United States Army
And spent most of his indenture in Washington
As a sort of Army liaison to the Office of Naval Contemplation