| School House Rock US History Rock No More Kings Rockin' and a-rollin', splishin' and a-splashin' Over the horizon, what could it be? The pilgrims sailed the sea to find A place to call their own. In their ship Mayflower they hoped To find a better home. They finally knocked on Plymouth Rock And someone said, "We're there, It may not look like home, But at this point I don't care." Oh they were missing Mother England They swore their loyalty until the very end. "Anything you say king, it's OK king, You know it's kind of scary on your own. Gonna build a new land the way we planned Could you help us run it till it's grown?" They planted corn you know, they built their houses one by one. And bit by bit they worked until the colonies were done. They looked around, yeah, up and down, and someone said, "Hurray!" If the king could only see us now, he would be proud of us today. They knew that now they'd run their own land, But George III still vowed he'd rule them till the end. "Anything I say, do it my way now, Anything I say do it my way. Don't you get to feeling independent, Cause I'm gonna force you to obey. He taxed their property, he didn't give them any choice. And back in England, he didn't give them any voice. That's called taxation without representation, and it's not fair. But when the colonies complained, the king said, "I don't care." He even has the nerve to tax our cup of tea To put it kindly king, we really don't agree We're gonna show you how we feel, we're gonna dump this tea And turn this harbor into the biggest cup of tea in history. They wanted no more Mother England, They knew the time had come for them to take command. "It's very clear you're being unfair, king, no matter what you say we won't obey. Gonna hold a revolution now, king, and we're gonna run it all our way." With no more kings We're gonna elect a president No more kings He's gonna do what the people want No more kings We're gonna run things our way No more kings No one's gonna tell us what to do No more kings Rockin' and a-rollin', splishin' and a-splashin' over the horizon what could it be? Looks like it's going to be a free country. The Shot Heard Round the World Now the ride of Paul Revere Set the nation on its ear And the shot at Lexington Heard round the world. When the British fired in the early dawn, The War of Independence had begun. The die was cast, the rebel flag unfurled. And on to Concord marched the foe, To seize the arsenal there you know, Waking folks, searching all around Till our militia stopped them in their tracks, At the Old North Bridge we turned them back, And chased those Redcoats back to Boston town. And the shot heard round the world Was the start of the revolution. The minutemen were ready, on the move. Take your powder, take your gun Report to General Washington, Hurry men, there's not an hour to lose. Now at famous Bunker Hill, even though we lost it was quite a thrill. The rebel Colonel Prescott proved he was wise. Outnumbered and low on ammunition, as the British stormed his position, he said, "Hold your fire till you see the whites of their eyes." Though the next few years were rough, General Washington's men proved they were tough. Those hungry, ragged boys would not be beat. One night they crossed the Delaware, surprised the Hessians in their lair, and at Valley Forge they just bundled up their feet. Now the shot heard round the world was the start of the revolution. The minutemen were ready, on the move. Take your blanket, take your son Report to General Washington. We've got our rights and now it's time to prove. Well, they showed such determination That they won the admiration Of countries cross the sea like France and Spain. Who loaned the colonies ships and guns And put the British on the run And the Continental Army on its feet again. And though we lost some battles too, the Americans swore they'd see it through Their raiding parties snuck up, hit and run At Yorktown the British could not retreat Bottled up by Washington and the French Fleet, Cornwallis surrendered and finally we had won. From the shot heard round the world, to the end of the revolution, The continental rabble took the day. And the father of our country beat the British there at Yorktown, and brought freedom to you and me and the U.S.A. God bless America! Let freedom ring! Preamble Hey, do you know about the U.S.A.? Do you know about the government? Can you tell me about the Constitution? Hey, learn about the U.S.A. In 1787 I'm told, our founding fathers did agree, to write a list of principles for keeping people free The U.S.A. was just starting out, a bold, brand new country, and so our people spelled it out, the things that we should be. And they put those principles down on paper, and called it the Constitution, and it's been helping us run our country ever since then. The first part of the Constitution is called the Preamble, and tells what those founding fathers set out to do. We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution, for the United States of America. In 1787 I'm told Our founding fathers all sat down And wrote a list of principles that's know the world around. The U.S.A. was just starting out, a bold, brand new country, And so our people spelled it out, they wanted a land of liberty. And the Preamble goes like this: (repeat preamble). Fireworks Ooh! There's gonna be fireworks On the Fourth of July. Red white and blue fireworks, like diamonds in the sky. We're gonna shoot the entire works on fireworks that really show We declared our liberty 200 years ago. In 1776 there were fireworks too The original colonists, you know their tempers blew. Like Thomas Paine once wrote, it's only Common Sense That if a government won't give you your basic rights, You'd better get another government. And though some people tried to fight it, A committee was formed to write it. Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson. They got it done -- the Declaration. The Declaration of Independence, in 1776 The Continental Congress said that we were free. They said we had the right of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When England heard the news, they blew their stack. But the colonists lit the fuse, there'd be no turning back. They'd had enough injustice now, but even if it really hurts, If you don't give us our freedom now, you're gonna see some fireworks. Now on the fourth of July they signed it, and 56 names underlined it. And now to honor those first 13 states, we turn the sky into a birthday cake. They got it done -- the Declaration. The Declaration of Independence, in 1776, The Continental Congress said that we were free. They said we had the right of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And if there's one thing that makes me happy, then you know that's it's There's gonna be fireworks. I'm Just a 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 Capitol 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'm still just a 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 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. 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. (Spoken): Congressman: He signed you, Bill! Now you're a law! Elbow Room One thing you will discover When you get next to one another Is everybody needs some elbow room, elbow room. It's nice when you're kind of cozy but not when you're tangled nose to nosy Oh everybody needs some elbow, needs a little elbow room. That's how it was in the early days of the U.S.A. The people kept coming to settle though The east was the only place there was to go. The presidewnt was Thomas Jefferson, He made a deal with Napoleon, How'd you like to sell a mile or two or four or a hundred or a thousand? And so in 1803 the Louisiana Territory was sold to us without a fuss and gave us lots of elbow room. Oh, elbow room, elbow room Got to, got to get us some elbow room. It's the west or bust, in God we trust, There's a new land out there. Lewis and Clark volunteered to go, Goodbye, good luck, wear your overcoat, They prepared for good times and for bad. They hired Sacajawea to be their guide, She led them all across the countryside, Reached the coast, and found the most Elbow room we'd ever had. The way was opened up for folks with bravery. There were plenty of fights to win land rights, but the West was meant to be. It was Manifest Destiny. The trappers, traders and the peddlers, the politicians and the settlers, They got there any way they could. The gold rush trampled down the wilderness, the railroads spread across from east to west, And soon the West was opened up for good. Now we jet from east to west, Goodbye New York, Hello L.A. But it took those early folks To open up the way. Now we've got a lot of room to be growing from sea to shining sea. Guess that we have got our elbow room, elbow room. But if there should ever come a time When we're crowded up together I'm sure we'll find some elbow room up on the moon. (Chorus) Mother Necessity Mother Necessity, with her good intentions, Where would this country be without her inventions? Oh, things were rotten in the land of cotton Until Whitney made the cotton gin. Now old times there will soon be forgotten, for it did the work of a hundred men. Mother Necessity, where would we be? Mother Edison worked late each night, It went well until the fading light. Little Thomas Alva Edison said I'll grow up to be A great inventor and I'll make a lamp to help my mommy see. Wowee! What an excellent application of electricity. He worked hard and pulled a switch, he was smart and very rich! Mother Necessity, help us to see. Now the mother of Samuel Morse Always sent the lad out on a horse. Take a message to Miss Peavy on the far side of the pike, Spread the word about the quilting bee next Saturday night. Little Samuel started thinking about a way to send a message Though he never met a horse he didn't like. Mother Necessity ... Elias can you help me with my sewing? Mother dear, I'll fulfill your fondest wishes. Elias, How(e)? This machine I've made will keep your sewing really flowing, In fact we'll keep the whole nation in stitches. Mother Necessity, where would we be? Ring me on the Alexander Graham Bell, Thank you Alexander for the phone. I'd never get a date, I'd never get a job, Unless I had a telephone. Mother Necessity ... Orville, Wilbur, go outside this minute, and then continue with your silly playing. Take these plans, take those blueprints, Take that funny looking thing, I can't hear a thing that Mrs. Johnson's saying. Orville! Wilbur! Mother Necessity, where would we be? When Robert Fulton made the steamboat go ... When Marconi gave us wireless radio ... When Henry Ford cranked up his first automo ... When Samuel Slater showed us how factories go ... They made this country really grow ... grow ... grow With Mother Necessity, and where would we be Without the inventions of your progeny? Sufferin' Till Suffrage Now you have heard About women's rights And how we've tried To reach new heights If we're all created equal, That's us too. But you will probably not recall That it's not been Too long at all Since we even had the right To cast a vote. Well sure some men bowed down and called us misses, Let us hang the wash out, and wash the dishes, but when the time rolled around to elect a president What did they say, sisters? They said, uh, see you later, alligator, and don't forget my mashed potatoes, Because I'm going downtown To cast my vote for president. But we were sufferin', until suffrage, Not a woman here could vote No matter what age Until the 19th Amendment Struck down that Restrictive rule. Now we pull down on the lever Cast our ballots, And we endeavor To improve our country, state, county, town and school. Those pilgrim women Who braved the boat Could cook the turkey But they could not vote Even Betsy Ross who sewed the flag Was left behind that first election day (What a shame, sisters!) Then Susan B. Anthony, and Julia Howe, Lucretia Mott, they showed us how, They carried signs and marched in lines Until at long last the law was passed. (Chorus) Since 1920, Sisters Unite! The Great Melting Pot My grandmother came from Russia, a satchel on her knee, My grandfather had his father's cap He brought from Italy. They'd heard about a country Where life might let them win They paid the fare to America and there they melted in. Lovely Lady Liberty, With her book of recipes, and the finest one she's got is the great American melting pot. You simply melt right in It doesn't matter what your skin It doesn't matter where you're from Or your religion, you jump right in To the great American melting pot. Oh what a stew, Red white and blue. America was the new world And Europe was the old. America was the land of hope, Or so the legend told. On steamboats by the millions, in search of honest pay, Those 19th-century immigrants Sailed to reach the U.S.A. Lovely Lady Liberty With her book of recipes And the finest one she's got Is the great American melting pot What good ingredients, Liberty and immigrants. They brought their countries' customs, their language and their ways. They filled the factories, Tilled the soil, Helped build the U.S.A. Go on and ask your Grandma, Hear what she has to tell, How great to be an American And something else as well. Lovely Lady Liberty With her book of recipes And the finest one she's got Is the great American melting pot. |