Title:  silent “e”

 

Composer:  Tom Lehrer

 

Lead vocals:  Tom Lehrer

Backing vocals:  none

 

Scene:  Cartoon with the silent “e” changing the identity of everything (except Sam).

 

 

[TL]  Who can turn a can into a cane?

Who can turn a pan into a pane?

It’s not too hard to see.  It’s silent “e”.

 

Who can turn a cub into a cube?

Who can turn a tub into a tube?

It’s elementary for silent “e”.

 

He took a pin and turned it into a pine.

He took a twin and turned him into twine.

 

Who can turn a cap into a cape?

Who can turn a tap into a tape?

A little glob becomes a globe instantly

If you just add silent “e”.

 

He turned a dam – alakazam! – into a dame.

But my friend Sam stayed just the same.

 

Who can turn a man into a mane?

Who can turn a van into a vane?

A little hug becomes huge instantly.

Don’t add “w”.  Don’t add “x”.  And don’t add “y” or “z”.

Just add silent “e”.

 

 

Click here to return to the archive.