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| First Aired: | 1975 | |
| Lyrics & Music by: | Dave Frishberg | |
| Performed by: | Jack Sheldon | |
| Designed by: | Tom Yohe | |
| Animation by: | Phil Kimmelman and Associates |
| Boy: | Whew! You sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington. But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is? |
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| I'm
just a bill.
Yes, I'm only a bill. And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill. Well, it's a long, long journey To the capital city. It's a long, long wait While I'm sitting in committee, But I know I'll be a law some day At least I hope and pray that I will But today I am still just a bill. |
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| Boy: | Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage. |
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| BILL: | Well, I got this far. When I started I wasn't even a bill, I was just an idea. Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed, so they called their local Congressman, and he said, "You're right, there oughta be a law." Then he sat down and wrote me out and introduced me to Congress. And I became a bill, and I'll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law. |
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| I'm
just a bill
Yes I'm only a bill, And I got as far as Capitol Hill. Well, now I'm stuck in committee And I'll sit here and wait While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate Whether they should let me be a law. How I hope and pray that they will, But today I am still just a bill. |
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| Boy: | Listen to those Congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you. |
| BILL: | Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide toreport on me favorably, otherwise I may die. |
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| Boy: | Die? |
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| BILL: | Yeah, die in committee. Ooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live! NOW I go to the House of Representatives, and they vote on me. |
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| Boy: | if they vote yes, what happens? |
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| BILL: | Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again. |
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| Boy: | Oh no! |
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| BILL: | Oh yes! |
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| I'm
just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill Well, then I'm off to the White House Where I'll wait in a line With a lot of other bills For the president to sign And if he signs me, then I'll be a law. HOW I hope and pray that he will, But today I am still just a bill. |
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| Boy: | You mean even if the whole Congress says you should be a law, the president can still say no? |
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| BILL: | Yes, that's called a veto. If the president vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress and they vote on me again, and by that time you're so old ... |
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| Boy: | By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become a law. It's not easy to become a law, is it? |
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| BILL: | No! |
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| But how I hope and pray that I will, But today I am still just a bill. | |
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| MAN: | He signed you, Bill Now you're a law! |
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| BILL: | Oh yes!!! |