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Tom Lehrer (1928-) is an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and
mathematician. He has lectured on mathematics and musical theater. Lehrer is
best known for the pithy, humorous songs he recorded in the 1950s and 60s. His
work often parodied popular song forms, notably in "The Elements", where he sets
the names of the chemical elements to the tune of the "Major-General's Song"
from Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance.
Silent E
by Tom Lehrer, 1971
PBS children's show "The Electric Company"
Who can turn a can into a cane?
Who can turn a pan into a pane?
It's not too hard to see,
It's Silent E.
Who can turn a cub into a cube?
Who can turn a tub into a tube?
It's elementary
For Silent E.
He took a pin and turned it into a pine.
He took a twin and turned him into twine.
Who can turn a cap into a cape?
Who can turn a tap into a tape?
A little glob becomes a globe instantly,
If you just add Silent E.
He turned a dam - Ala Kazam! - into a dame.
But my friend Sam stayed just the same.
Who can turn a man into a mane?
Who can turn a van into a vane?
A little hug becomes huge instantly.
Don't add W, Don't add X, And don't add Y or Z,
Just add Silent E.
See also:
That's Mathematics,
New Math,
Lobachevsky,
The Elements, Silent E,
Who's Next,
When You are Old and Gray,
Poisoning Pigeons
in the Park,
Pollution.
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Last updated: January 25,
2008 |
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