Most people, no matter what line of work they’re in, are often asked about their greatest influences, or about a favorite member of their field.

It doesn’t happen to me all that often, but when I’m asked about my favorite math teacher or favorite mathematician I always say the same thing.

Tom Lehrer.

When I’m asked about my favorite songwriter?

Same answer.

Perhaps not as well known as Cole Porter or Paul Simon or Billy Joel, Tom Lehrer deserves to be mentioned among the great American songwriters of the 20th century for his clever lyrics, catchy melodies, and consciousness to social issues through music.

And it wasn’t even his regular job.

Tom Lehrer, musician and mathematician, passed away this week at the age of 97. In a parallel career that spanned decades, he performed in musical and mathematical settings going back to the earliest days of the Cold War. How many people can say they wrote satirical songs about the Atomic Age while also working in the scientific laboratories engaged in such?

Frankly I’ve always been in awe not only of the Lehrer output but also the schedule. Write a few hit songs (“hit” as underground music channels go), sell out a few theaters, then go back to teaching math for a decade or two. Most professors relax on their sabbaticals; Lehrer would fill European concert halls. (Lehrer had a big following in Europe… maybe because his satirical targets were Americans.)

The music of Tom Lehrer lies somewhere between brilliant and obscene, lyrics acerbic yet keenly insightful. “Cheeky,” is probably the adjective most apt. (Accompanying himself on piano, his skills at the keyboard were themselves praiseworthy; he made Einstein playing the violin look like… Einstein playing the violin.) Though his biting lyrics often bordered on pornographic or criminal, they were presented in such a charming way by such an obviously civilized performer that one could recognize the genius therein.

But they wouldn’t last five minutes today in our overly-sensitive, politically-correct, cancel-culture world. (He came to us at the right time.) One can imagine, though, Lehrer composing a tune about his own metaphorical lynching, a masterly poke at those who needed poking. That’s what Lehrer did best: pointing out flaws and exposing them as such. Whether his targets were pleasant-sounding hypocrites or outright vandals, Tom Lehrer was there to lampoon them.

His recordings live on, and freely so, as Lehrer famously relinquished copyrights to all of his music several years ago. Future generations take note: discover the music of Tom Lehrer and embrace its irreverence. Even if it doesn’t change the world it’ll at least let you smile through it.

RIP, Tom Lehrer. A great purveyor of math and musings.