[Intro: John Sheldon]

Whew, you sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington

Well, I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is

[Chorus: Bill]

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 someday

At least I hope and pray that I will

But today, I am still just a bill

[Verse 1: Bill & John Sheldon]

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

[Chorus: Bill]

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

[Verse 2: Bill & John Sheldon]

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!

[Chorus: Bill]

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

[Verse 3: Bill & John Sheldon]

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 all only—

By that time, it's very unlikely that you'll become a law

It's not easy to become a law, is it?

No!

[Chorus: Bill]

But how I hope and I pray that I will

But today, I am still just a bill

[Outro: Bill & Rep. McCoy]

He signed you, Bill

Now you're a law!

Oh yes!