Tom Lehrer, the Harvard professor and singer of satirical songs has passed away at 97.

To many, this sentence may sound mystifying. He had vanished from the public eye and even when he was at the height of his fame, he was barely known in India. But he was hailed elsewhere in the world.

To teach Mathematics at the hallowed institution and then write, compose, play the piano, sing and perform songs that “poked and prodded America in the ‘50s and ‘60s’” can only be the work of a bonafide genius. His songs were full of dark satire, the subjects ranging from World War III to simply funny, such as 'Alma', on a woman who married several of the top creative names of Europe.

Lehrer was also known for his creative rhymes, examples of which are presented in his songs.

Here is a selection of some of his best.

'The Elements': This lists the chemical elements in rapid succession, to the tune of Modern Major General from the comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance.

'So Long Mom, (A song for World War III)': Lehrer speaks of ‘dropping the bomb” and suggests that everyone will be wiped out (and this is what he said on/ his way to armageddon. Eerily prescient, especially in the present context.

'Werner von Braun': Lehrer’s song about the Nazi aerospace engineer who then shifted to the US after World War II to develop rocket and space technology.

'National Brotherhood Week', about an American custom to spread good cheer and social harmony, which puts a strain on everybody to be nice to people they intensely dislike.

'Vatican Rag', probably one of his most famous songs, about the Vatican allowing some liberal ideas into the church, such as the use of “secular music in portions of the liturgy.” He tries his hand at the use of Ragtime while attending mass.

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