Schoolhouse rock

The latest Tom the dancing bug cartoon intrigued me, and I wondered who it was based on.



It was based on an animation from the cartoon "Schoolhouse rock" about the process of getting a bill passed. It was called "Just a Bill".

It was popularised and satirised by a Simpsons cartoon called "The Day the Violence Died".
A musician and singer named Jack Sheldon "did the voice of the Amendment. He also played the Bill
in the parodied Schoolhouse Rock cartoon and was somewhat of a
singer." The song was called An Amendment to Be, and here are some of the lyrics:

"There's a lot of flag-burners who have got too much freedom
I want to make it legal for policemen to beat 'em
'Cause there's limits to our liberties
At least, I hope and pray that there are
'Cause those liberal freaks go too far
[Little Boy] But why can't we just make a law against flag burning?
[Amendment] Because that law would be unconstitutional
But if we change the constitution -
[Little Boy] - Then we could make all sorts of crazy laws!
[Amendment] Now you're catching on!
[Little Boy] But what if they say you're not good enough to be in the constitution?
[Amendment] Then I'll crush all opposition to me!
And I'll make Ted Kennedy pay
If he fights back, I'll say that he's gay"

It also includes the immortal line:
Bart: What the hell is this?
Lisa: It's one of those campy 70's throwbacks that appeals to Generation-X'ers.
Bart: We need another Vietnam to thin out their ranks a little.

The episode was written by John Swartzwelder

The original song is here, and the Simpsons parody is here.