Tom Lehrer

I'm not talking about songs that have a dated sound (there's more than I could ever list). I'm referring to songs with a specific date or year in the lyrics, that are mentioned as the present or future. Like Prince's "1999" (which will not be played as much now that it's date has come and gone). These are songs for which the present or future they refer to, has come and gone. 1999 was the future in 1982, 1999 has now passed.

What I am NOT looking for, are songs like Bowling for Soup's "1985" which are written after the date they are talking about. This song is looking back, or written from the point of view of after the date mentioned.

We also accept lyrics that mention prices that are now dated, such as 10 cent pay phone calls. Lyrics that mention a persons age at the time and that person is now past said age, and lyrics that mentioned events that were current at the time of the song but have now passed are also accepted.

Basically anything that definitively dates a song by any means other than the way it "sounds". Words/phrases/singing styles or instruments that were used commonly in a time period but are no longer used that much today are not accepted.

Dated References, Tom Lehrer

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An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer album at Amazon.com

Tom Lehrer's, "George Murphy"

The dated Lyrics:

Hollywood's often tried to mix
Show business with politics.
From Helen Gahagan
To Ronald Reagan?
But Mr. Murphy is the star
Who's done the best, so far.

Why They're dated:

When this song was written, former musical actor George Murphy had been just been elected to what would prove to be his only term in the U.S. Senate and Ronald Reagan was still remembered for his film career and was just beginning to climb the political ladder. It was 15 years before Reagan was elected to the first of his two terms as President of the U.S., surpassing Mr. Murphy's record for the highest-achieving ex-movie star politician.

Submitted by: Raphael

Tom Lehrer's, "George Murphy"

The dated Lyrics:

Think of all the musicals we have in store
Imagine 'Broadway Melody of 1984!'

Why They're dated:

1984 has now come and gone, and it is interesting to note that in 1984, movie musicals were in steep decline, part of a trend that begin around the time that this song was written. But then again, this line was probably meant to be ironic, as this song was also written 25 years after the last 'Broadway Melody' movie was even made.

Submitted by: Raphael

Tom Lehrer's, "MLF Lullaby"

The dated Lyrics:

Let's make peace the way we did at Stanleyville and Saigon

Why They're dated:

Good luck trying to find Stanleyville and Saigon on a map! They are now known respectively as Kinshasa, Congo and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Submitted by: Raphael

Tom Lehrer's, "So Long Mom"

The dated Lyrics:

Remember Mommy, I'm off to get a Commie

Why They're dated:

A clear cold war reference - "Commie" being short for "Communist", which is what it would have been the obvious issue around World War III.

Submitted by: EF

Tom Lehrer's, "Who's Next?"

The dated Lyrics:

Egypt's gonna get one, too,
Just to use on you know who.
So Israel's getting tense,
Wants one in self defense.

Why They're dated:

Since 1979, Israel and Egypt have had a peace treaty, so Egypt having a nuclear bomb would no longer be as big a deal.

Submitted by: EF

Tom Lehrer's, "Who's Next?"

The dated Lyrics:

South Africa wants two, that's right:
One for the black and one for the white!

Why They're dated:

This is clearly a reference to the Apartheid in South Africa, which ended in 1991.

Submitted by: EF

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