"The Modern Major General"
"The Modern Major General" was a song from "The Pirates of Penzance" by Gilbert and Sullivan.
The opening stanza was:
I am the very model of a modern Major-General
I've information vegetable, animal and mineral
I know the kings of England and I quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo in order categorical!
In 2040, Imogen Quaye learned the song on the Internet and learned all the information in the song, and beyond, after having an operation to improve her brain capacity at the Lashley Institute. (PROSE: Artificial Intelligence [+]Loading...["Artificial Intelligence (short story)"])
The Sixth Doctor sang "I Am the Very Model of a Gallifreyan Buccaneer" as an autobiographical version of the song to Sally and Evelyn Smythe. (AUDIO: Doctor Who and the Pirates [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Pirates (audio story)"])
The Eighth Doctor could sing the elements on the periodic table to the tune of "The Modern Major General". (PROSE: Grimm Reality [+]Loading...["Grimm Reality (novel)"])