Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex - Tom Lehrer

From the bible to the popular song

There's one theme that we find right along

Of all ideals they hail as good

The most sublime is motherhood

There was a man though who it seems

Once carried this ideal to extremes

He loved his mother and she loved him

And yet his story is rather grim

There once lived a man named Oedipus Rex

You may have heard about his odd complex

His name appears in Freud's index

'Cause he loved his mother

His rivals used to say quite a bit

That as a monarch he was most unfit

But still in all they had to admit

That he loved his mother

Yes he loved his mother like no other

His daughter was his sister

And his son was his brother

One thing on which you can depend is

He sure knew who a boy's best friend is

When he found what he had done

He tore his eyes out one by one

A tragic end to a loyal son

Who loved his mother

So be sweet and kind to mother

Now and then have a chat

Buy her candy or some flowers

Or a brand new hat

But maybe you had better let it go at that

Or you may find yourself with

A quite complex

Complex and

You may end up like Oedipus

I'd rather marry a duck billed platypus

Than end up like old Oedipus Rex