I'm Just A Man
Jack and The Jaywalkers Lyrics
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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,
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I'm 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 ought to 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 sit here and wait
While a few key congressmen
Discuss and debate
Whether they should
Let me be a law
Oh 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?)
(Yes. 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. Oooh! 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
Oh, 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 it's)
(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 I pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill!
(He signed you, bill! Now you're a law!)
(Oh yes!)
The song "I'm Just a Bill" by Jack and The Jaywalkers is a satirical commentary on the legislative process in the United States. The song follows the journey of a bill, personified as a small scrap of paper, as it makes its way through Congress with the hope of becoming a law. The lyrics highlight the arduous nature of the process, with the bill having to go through committees, debates, and votes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before it can even reach the President's desk.
In the song, the bill is depicted as hopeful and optimistic, despite the many obstacles in its path. The lyrics also draw attention to the fact that not all bills make it to the final stage of becoming a law, with many dying in committees. The song's humorous tone and catchy melody have made it a popular tool for teaching civics and government to children.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a bill,
The singer is a proposal for a new law that is currently being considered in the US Congress.
Yes, I'm only a bill,
The singer emphasizes that they are not yet a law, but only a proposal at this stage.
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
The proposal is being considered by the US Congress, who convene in the Capitol Building in Washington DC.
Well, it's a long, long journey
The process of becoming a law involves many stages and can take a long time.
To the capital city,
The capital city being referred to here is Washington DC, where the US Congress meets.
It's a long, long wait
The proposal may be considered by various committees and may face delays at each stage of the process.
While I'm sitting in committee,
The proposal is currently being considered by a committee within Congress.
But I know I'll be a law someday...
The artist is optimistic that the proposal will one day become a law.
At least I hope and pray that I will,
The artist acknowledges that becoming a law is not guaranteed, but they are hopeful and optimistic about their chances.
But today I'm still just a bill.
The artist reminds us that they are not yet a law, but only a proposal at this stage.
Well now I'm stuck in committee
The proposal is currently being held up in a committee within Congress.
And I sit here and wait
The proposal is waiting for approval from key members of Congress before it can advance to the next stage.
While a few key congressmen
A small number of influential members of Congress have the power to affect the proposal's fate.
Discuss and debate
Congress is currently debating the merits of the proposal and deciding whether to advance it to the next stage.
Whether they should
Congress is deciding whether the proposal should be approved or rejected.
Let me be a law
The proposal is seeking approval to become a new law in the US.
Oh how I hope and pray that they will,
The artist is hopeful that Congress will approve the proposal and advance it to the next stage.
But today I am still just a bill.
The proposal is still waiting for the approval of key members of Congress before it can advance to the next stage.
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill,
If the proposal is approved by Congress, it will advance to the next stage of the legislative process.
Well then I'm off to the White House
If the proposal is approved by both the House and the Senate, it will be sent to the White House for the President's approval.
Where I'll wait in a line
The proposal will be added to a queue of other proposals that are waiting for the President's approval.
With a lot of other bills
The proposal will be joined by many other legislative proposals in the queue of bills waiting for the President's approval.
For the President to sign.
The proposal requires the President's signature in order to become a new law.
And if he signs me then I'll be a law
If the President approves the proposal, it will become a new law in the US.
Yes, that's called a "veto".
If the President does not approve the proposal, he can veto it, which means it will not become a new law.
If the President vetoes me,
If the President does not approve the proposal and vetoes it, the process of approval will need to start again from the beginning.
I have to go back to Congress,
If the proposal is vetoed by the President, it will need to be returned to Congress for further consideration and approval.
And they vote on me again,
If the proposal is vetoed by the President, it will need to be voted on again by members of Congress before it can become a new law.
And by that time it's...
If the proposal is vetoed by the President, it is less likely that it will eventually become a new law.
Very unlikely that you'll become a law!
If the proposal is vetoed by the President, it will be very difficult for it to eventually become a new law.
No! But how I hope and I pray that I will,
The singer remains optimistic and hopeful about their chances of eventually becoming a new law.
But today I am still just a bill!
The proposal is still in the early stages of the legislative process and is not yet a new law.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID L. FRISHBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Naptosis
Luther Blissett Ashes are literally parts of the body. They are bones.
'Ignorantia juris non excusat' is a legal principle holding that a person who is unaware of a law may not escape liability for violating that law merely by being unaware of its content.
'Ignorance is no excuse'.
But yeah, otherwise I think legally you are completely right.
The point is moot however. The US police are unconstitutionally, and immorally, simply functionally immune to prosecution for even capital crimes. Nevermind whilst rifling through, snorting, and discarding this fellow's daughters ashes.
They could have thrown them into the air and told him he had to catch them as part of a sobriety test.
They'd get away with paid leave.
Things won't change until the people are finally angry enough to hold the police to account.
Angie
I read somewhere how his daughter was killed by negligence and abuse. Her mom and stepdad are in jail for her death. This man has dealt with enough heartbreak!
diedra diedra
No you didn’t stop lying
jkie lacague
And once again the world put him down.
Laura Rowland
What’s really fucked up… you can’t sue the cops, you have to do the city. Cops should have to have insurance just like doctors. Cause who pays for the mistake that cop made?!? NOT HIM!!!
etherraichu
watching the cops just ignore his pleas is disgusting
Dissident Expression
My heart breaks for this young man. He carries so much pain I can't imagine. And even after this he can still keep a calm composure. His dad was completely collected and respectful too. These people are a nice family, it radiates from them.
Larry Gill
As a father, and now knowing how his daughter died, this was absolutely gut wrenching when he started pleading and begging the cops to give back the ashes.
No apologize from the police. Nothing. They are absolutely fucked when this goes to trial.
Hayden Blake
@Kai Beats have you seen ashes? have you seen weed? they look nothing a like. at all.
Alex
@etherraichu no that’s not true…cops still do it all the time you just are living in a box😢
Maya M
For those under this comment that are somewhat siding with the police….did y’all not hear him lie? The officer literally told him that HIS DAUGHTER’S ASHES tested positive for illegal substances. Y’all are weird man.