On November 26 2022, the legendary songwriter Tom Lehrer released his entire body of works into the Public Domain.
In honour of his life and oevre, this arrangement of one of Lehrer’s most popular songs captures his satirical wit and playfulness with music and text.
This arrangement was written in 2026 for the Australian Boys Choir’s premiere changing voice ensemble The Kelly Gang.
The easy listening of this arrangement will suit Soirées or provide a light-hearted departure from a more serious choral program.
While there is a short solo section on top of TTBB singers, this piece is otherwise equally suited to anything from a large choir or vocal quartet.
Lehrer’s text is as follows:
Spring is here, spring is here.
Life is skittles, and life is beer.
I think the loveliest time of the year
Is the spring, I do, don't you? Course you do!
But there's one thing that makes spring complete for me
And makes every Sunday a treat for me:All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon
When we’re poisoning pigeons in the park.
Every Sunday you'll see
My sweetheart and me
As we poison the pigeons in the parkWhen they see us coming
The birdies all try an' hide,
But they still go for peanuts
When coated with cyan-hide.
The sun's shining bright,
Everything seems all right
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park.We've gained notoriety
And caused much anxiety
In the Audubon Society
With our games.
They call it impiety
And lack of propriety
And quite a variety of unpleasant names.
But it's not against any religion
To want to dispose of a pigeon.So, if Sunday you're free,
Why don't you come with me,
And we'll poison the pigeons in the park.
And maybe we'll do
In a squirrel or two
While we're poisoning pigeons in the park.We'll murder them all amid laughter and merriment,
Except for the few we take home to experiment.
My pulse will be quickenin'
With each drop of strychnine
We feed to a pigeon
(It just takes a smidgin)
To poison a pigeon in the park.
On November 26 2022, the legendary songwriter Tom Lehrer released his entire body of works into the Public Domain.
In honour of his life and oevre, this arrangement of one of Lehrer’s most popular songs captures his satirical wit and playfulness with music and text.
This arrangement was written in 2026 for the Australian Boys Choir’s premiere changing voice ensemble The Kelly Gang.
The easy listening of this arrangement will suit Soirées or provide a light-hearted departure from a more serious choral program.
While there is a short solo section on top of TTBB singers, this piece is otherwise equally suited to anything from a large choir or vocal quartet.
Lehrer’s text is as follows:
Spring is here, spring is here.
Life is skittles, and life is beer.
I think the loveliest time of the year
Is the spring, I do, don't you? Course you do!
But there's one thing that makes spring complete for me
And makes every Sunday a treat for me:All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon
When we’re poisoning pigeons in the park.
Every Sunday you'll see
My sweetheart and me
As we poison the pigeons in the parkWhen they see us coming
The birdies all try an' hide,
But they still go for peanuts
When coated with cyan-hide.
The sun's shining bright,
Everything seems all right
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park.We've gained notoriety
And caused much anxiety
In the Audubon Society
With our games.
They call it impiety
And lack of propriety
And quite a variety of unpleasant names.
But it's not against any religion
To want to dispose of a pigeon.So, if Sunday you're free,
Why don't you come with me,
And we'll poison the pigeons in the park.
And maybe we'll do
In a squirrel or two
While we're poisoning pigeons in the park.We'll murder them all amid laughter and merriment,
Except for the few we take home to experiment.
My pulse will be quickenin'
With each drop of strychnine
We feed to a pigeon
(It just takes a smidgin)
To poison a pigeon in the park.
