this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2025
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152
TIL Tom Lehrer worked for the NSA (infosec.pub)
submitted 2 weeks ago by General_Effort@lemmy.world to c/memes@lemmy.world
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With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.

https://bsky.app/profile/opalescentopal.bsky.social/post/3luxxx2a2f623

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[–] Walican132@lemmy.today 44 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Holy god I had no idea he was still alive. I’m mortified. I’ve been a huge fan since I was a kid and presumed he died long before then.

I feel insane.

[–] Justas@sh.itjust.works 26 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

He just barely outlived Henry Kissinger.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 weeks ago

A small comfort, to be sure

[–] outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 weeks ago

Thats pretty good, both for lifespan and fuckers to experience a world without.

[–] General_Effort@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

3 years ago, he gifted all his songs to the world. A farewell gift for us, I should think.

All copyrights to lyrics or music written or composed by me have been permanently and irrevocably relinquished, and therefore such songs are now in the public domain.

[...]

In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs.

So help yourselves, and don’t send me any money.

NOTICE:

THIS WEBSITE WILL BE SHUT DOWN AT SOME DATE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, SO IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD ANYTHING, DON’T WAIT TOO LONG.

https://tomlehrersongs.com/

[–] General_Effort@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

PS. I am rarely touched by the death of strangers, even if they entertained me. This gesture touched me as someone who has often complained about common culture being "private property". I don't begrudge any creator their money, but they need to accept that at some point, their work also belongs to the fans who made it theirs.

It's crazy, how long and far the fame of some black and white musical comedian spreads.

Thank you, Tom Lehrer, for everything.