Blue Cross by Tom Lehrer

[alfredo]

Sung to the tune of "Blue Skies"

Sung to the tune of: "Blue Skies"

Blue Cross
Had me agree
To a new Blue Cross
Policy!

Blue Cross
Said I would be
Happy that Blue Cross
Covered me!

Then I took a fall,
Leg in a splint;
They said that I
Should read the fine print!

When a very high
Fever I ran,
They told me I
Took out the wrong plan!

That's Blue Cross!
There seems to be
Plenty for Blue Cross!
None for me!

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Wow. A Tom Leher I'm unfamiliar with.

I wonder how many more there are out there.

[Fridays Child]

2. I dunno but something about how freaked out the GOP is with our black president suggests this tune:

Oh, the white folks hate the black folks,
And the black folks hate the white folks.
To hate all but the right folks
Is an old established rule.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
Lena Horne and Sheriff Clarke are dancing cheek to cheek.
It's fun to eulogize
The people you despise,
As long as you don't let 'em in your school.

Oh, the poor folks hate the rich folks,
And the rich folks hate the poor folks.
All of my folks hate all of your folks,
It's American as apple pie.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
New Yorkers love the Puerto Ricans 'cause it's very chic.
Step up and shake the hand
Of someone you can't stand.
You can tolerate him if you try.

Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Muslims,
And everybody hates the Jews.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
It's National Everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood Week.
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you.
It's only for a week, so have no fear.
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!

[alfredo]

3. He's on youtube, check him out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhuMLpdnOjY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frAEmhqdLFs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TytGOeiW0aE&feature=PlayList&p=1C68974C982CBA68&index=7

Now you know why all us baby boomers are all so twisted.

[Hissyspit]

8. That's because it's not a Tom Lehrer song. Frank Jacobs doing a Mad Magazine parody song:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6165953

Edited on Mon Jul-27-09 10:43 PM by Hissyspit
http://nothstine.blogspot.com/2009/01/mad-magazine-exception.html

BLUE CROSS

By Frank Jacobs of Mad Magazine



A bad experience with a medical coverage program.

Sung to the tune of: Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6cZKcRhQes&feature=rela...

Blue Cross
Had me agree
To a new Blue Cross
Policy!

Blue Cross
Said I would be
Happy that Blue Cross
Covered me!

Then I took a fall,
Leg in a splint;
They said that I
Should read the fine print!

When a very high
Fever I ran,
They told me I
Took out the wrong plan!

That's Blue Cross!
There seems to be
Plenty for Blue Cross!
None for me!

[LeftishBrit]

4. k&r - I love Tom Lehrer!

[alfredo]

5. Thanks for the K&R

[AllyCat]

6. Tom Lehrer is a genius.

He announced shortly before Nov '08 that he was voting for Obama.

My personal favorite:

I hold your hand in mine dear, I press it to my lips.
I take a healthy bite of your dainty fingertips.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. I've loved Tom for most of my life. :)

[alfredo]

9. He was one of the best. Ken Nordine is another favorite

I bet Laurie Anderson was inspired by him. The phrasing is the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoHmVEvGMaw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8BqGnG80ZY&feature=related

http://www.laurieanderson.com/

[tbyg52]

10. And this was back from when Blue Cross wan nonprofit....! nt

[Eric J in MN]

11. By Frank Jacobs of Mad Magazine

===============================================
http://nothstine.blogspot.com/2009/01/mad-magazine-exception.html


Last night's episode (of Oregon Public Broadcasting's "Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America," hosted by Billy Crystal) featured several minutes of footage of two of my own heroes: satirical songwriter Tom Lehrer and Mad Magazine song parodist (and obituary writer) Frank Jacobs. Lehrer is becoming increasingly available on YouTube, but seeing Jacobs in the flesh, rather than simply in print, was an unusual treat.

Especially since he told the story of Irving Berlin et al. v. E.C. Publications, Inc. The short version is this: The 1961 "Fourth Annual Edition of More Trash Mad" (click on cover image to enlarge) included a 20-page "Sing Along With Mad" book of parody song lyrics, including this one, which--to my delight--Jacobs sang on the show last night.
===============================================

[alfredo]

12. Here's the link to the PBS site

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/makeemlaugh/