If you live in New York and you walked outside today–specifically through the Union Square Greenmarket–there should have been little doubt in your mind that the season has officially changed. It’s spring! Look at the flowers!
And to celebrate this most joyous of seasons, here are the lyrics to my favorite spring song: Tom Lehrer’s “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park.” (I recommend that you download an mp3 of it so you can hear the music…) Enjoy and Happy Spring!
Poisoning Pigeons in the Park by Tom Lehrer
Spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring 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 ev’ry sunday a treat for me.
All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon,
When we’re poisoning pigeons in the park.
Ev’ry sunday you’ll see
My sweetheart and me,
As we poison the pigeons in the park.
When they see us coming, the birdies all try an’ hide,
But they still go for peanuts when coated with cyanide.
The sun’s shining bright,
Ev’rything seems all right,
When we’re poisoning pigeons in the park.
Lalaalaalalaladoodiedieedoodoodoo
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.
Thank you so much! That song totally made my night! Too bad I woke my roomate with my giggling when I downloaded the mp3.
HAPPY SPRING!!
I LOVE that song!!! I own a single record (and unfortunately no turntable) and it is “Songs by Tom Lehrer”. Up until two minutes ago (when I pulled it out to look at) I assumed that “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” was on it, but alas it is not. I still remember it well, though, from years ago when my Dad would play it. Thanks for bringing back a wonderful memory!