I'm Just a Bill Songtext
von Jack Sheldon

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?

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.

Gee, Bill,
You certainly have a lot of patience and courage.


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.

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.

Listen to those Congressmen arguing!
Is all that discussion and debate about you.

Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones.
Most bills never even get this far.
I hope they decide to report on me favorably
Otherwise I may die.

Die?


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.

If they vote yes, what happens?

Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts
All over again.

Oh no!

Oh yes!

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.

You mean even if the whole Congress says you
Should be a law, the president can still say no?

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 ...

By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become a law.
It′s not easy to become a law, is it?

No!

But how I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

He signed you, Bill
Now you′re a law!

Oh yes!!!