The Elements (names of chemical elements to tune of “Modern Major General”)
~ Song
Annotation
Official recordings by Lehrer
* 1959-03-20 live, released on An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer; there are at least two versions found on Lehrer's releases. The time ranges overlap and both have been confirmed on VA compilations, so be careful with merges!
** The Reprise vinyl releases (judging by printed times), The Remains of Tom Lehrer and some other compilations start The Elements with "Now, let me digress..." and end with Lehrer asking for the next slide. Usually ~2:10-2:14 but can be longer.
** The 1990 CD and a few other CD and digital versions start immediately following A Christmas Carol with "Actually, I've done rather well..." and end immediately following The Elements. Asking for the next slide is found on the following track, Oedipus Rex. Typically ~2:19, but also can go longer.
* 1959-07-08 studio, released on More of Tom Lehrer, length ~1:23-1:26
Relationships
| lyricist and arranger: | Tom Lehrer |
|---|---|
| composer: | Arthur Sullivan |
| publisher: | Maelstrom Music |
|---|
| download score for free: | https://tomlehrersongs.com/the-elements/ [info] |
|---|
| later translated versions: | Los elementos |
|---|---|
| later versions: | The Drugs Song |
| parody version of: | The Pirates of Penzance: Act I, no. 13. “I am the very model of a modern Major-General” (Major-General, Chorus) |
| part of: | Tomfoolery The Physical Revue (order: 9) |
| is based on: | Lady in the Dark: Tschaikowsky (and Other Russians) |
| music quoted in and lyrics quoted in: | PIGMY MARMOSET Ⅱ Pygmy Marmoset |
Recordings
| Date | Title | Attributes | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| recordings | ||||
| 1951-01-22 | The Elements (live, 1951-01-22: Harvard University, USA; unreleased) | live | Tom Lehrer | ?:?? |
| 1959-03-20 – 1959-03-21 | The Elements (live, 1959-03: Sanders Theater, Harvard University, USA; starts with "Now...") | live | Tom Lehrer | 2:14 |
| 1959-03-20 – 1959-03-21 | The Elements (live, 1959-03: Sanders Theater, Harvard University, USA; starts with "Actually...") | live | Tom Lehrer | 2:19 |
| 1959-07-08 | The Elements | Tom Lehrer | 1:26 | |
| 1980-10-12 | The Elements (1980 original London cast) | Robin Ray | 1:48 | |
| 2021-02-05 – 2021-02-06 | The Elements | cover | The Queen’s Six | 1:30 |
| The Elements | Tom Lehrer | 1:26 | ||
| The Elements | cover | Marian Call | 1:22 | |
| The Elements (live, 1959-03: Sanders Theater, Harvard, United States; Dr. Demento edit) | Tom Lehrer | 2:00 | ||
| The Elements | Tom Lehrer | 1:40 | ||
| The Elements | cover | Consortium of Genius | 2:36 | |
| The Elements | Tom Lehrer | 1:26 | ||
| THE ELEMENTS (元素の歌) | cover | CTO LAB. | 2:35 | |
| The Elements & The Vatican Rag | The Harvard Din & Tonics | 2:34 | ||
| The Elements & The Vatican Rag | cover | The Harvard Din & Tonics | 2:30 | |
| Tom Lehrer's the Elements | Jesse Dangerously | 1:20 | ||
| Tom Lehrer’s Elements (complete and unabridged) | Helen Arney | 1:46 | ||