In October 2020, Lehrer transferred the music and lyrics for all songs he had ever written into thepublic domain.[5][6] In November 2022, he formally relinquished the copyright and performing/recording rights on his songs, making all music and lyrics composed by him free for anyone to use.[7]
"George Murphy" –George Murphy, dancer, actor and recently-elected junior senator for California. Democratic voters of the time questioned whether an actor with no political experience could function as a Senator. Lehrer also criticizes Murphy's comments about Mexicans working in the US, and refers briefly to the then-nascent political career ofRonald Reagan.
"The Folk Song Army" – thefolk revival of the 1960s, and specifically what Lehrer perceived to be the futility of protest music. Alludes to songs of the Republican side in theSpanish Civil War, especially "Venga Jaleo", which it excerpts musically.
"Send the Marines" – US intervention intervene in other, usually weaker, countries, the most recent example being the deployment of the US Marine Corps in theDominican Civil War in April 1965. In 2003, former chief UN weapons inspectorHans Blix told aSwedish radio program that he did not think that theinvasion of Iraq, "in the way it was justified, was compatible with the UN Charter," and then had the station play this song.[8]
"Pollution" –environmental pollution. According to the liner notes of the album, this was the San Francisco version of the song, featuring the lines: "The breakfast garbage that you throw into theBay / They drink at lunch inSan Jose". The lyrics varied: for example, the version Lehrer performed in New York version referred respectively toTroy andPerth Amboy.
"Whatever Became of Hubert?" –Hubert Humphrey, then US Vice President underLyndon B. Johnson, and frustrations among liberals over Humphrey's perceived quiescence to the more domineering figure of Johnson.
"New Math" –New Math, a trend at the time in the teaching of mathematics.
"Who's Next?" –nuclear proliferation. Lists numerous countries that either had already achieved the capacity to deploy nuclear weapons or could potentially do so.
"Wernher Von Braun" – German-American rocket scientistWernher von Braun, who had helped develop theV-2 rocket forNazi Germany before relocating to the US underOperation Paperclip and leading the US rocket development program during the 1960s.[9]
"The Vatican Rag" – theSecond Vatican Council and the reform ofRoman Catholicliturgy. (Upon performing this song in thehungry i nightclub in San Francisco, Lehrer was harshly criticized by actorRicardo Montalbán, who happened to be in the audience that night. Montalbán shouted "Howdare you make fun of my religion! Ilove my religion! I willdie for my religion!" To which Lehrer responded "Hey, no problem, as long as you don't fight for your religion.")[10]
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