American musical satirist Tom Lehrer dies at 97

Songwriter's satirical compositions earned him notoriety

Tom Lehrer, the American musical satirist touted for his witty repertoire commending societal issues, died at the age of 97. Though he confined his works within the boundaries of musical pieces, his compositions entailed satirical depictions of cherished institutions and
controversial topics. Lehrer's most notable tunes included "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park,"
"The Elements," and "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good," each revealing his unmistakable
tongue-in-cheek take on subjects like chemical elements and love gone wrong. Despite his
unwavering dedication to musical satire, Lehrer withdrew from the spotlight, and his works became the subject of appreciation for a succeeding generation of followers.