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Threeringgovernment

Three-Ring Government is a song from America Rock!. It is written and sung by Lynn Ahrens in the perspective of a young boy who dreams of a three-ring circus in school and becomes a ringleader of his own circus. It is about the three branches of the government: the Executive (President), the Legislative (Congress), and Judicial (Supreme Court) branches.

America Rock[]

This song teaches about the branches of the United States Government, using a three-ring circus as a model.

Lyrics[]

Gonna have a three-ring circus someday,
People will say, "It's a fine one, son."
Gonna have a three-ring circus someday,
People will come from miles around.
Lions, tigers, acrobats and jugglers and clowns galore,
Tightrope walkers, pony riders, elephants, and so much more...

Guess I got the idea right here at school.
Felt like a fool when they called my name,
Talking about the government and how it's arranged,
Divided in three like a circus.
Ring one, Executive,
Two is Legislative, that's Congress.
Ring three, Judiciary.
See it's kind of like my circus, circus.

Step right up and visit ring number one.
The show's just begun. Meet the President.
"I am here to see that the laws get done."
The ringmaster of the government.

On with the show!

Hurry, hurry, hurry to ring number two.
See what they do in the Congress.
Passing laws and juggling bills,
Oh, it's quite a thrill in the Congress.
Focus your attention on ring number three.
The Judiciary's in the spotlight.
The courts take the law and they tame the crimes.
Balancing the wrongs with your rights.

No one part can be more powerful than any other is.
Each controls the other, you see, and that's what we call checks and balances.

Well, everybody's act is part of the show.
And no one's job is more important.
The audience is kinda like the country, you know,
Keeping an eye on their performance.

Ring one, Executive,
Two is Legislative, that's Congress.
Ring three, Judiciary.
See, it's kind of like my circus, my circus.

Gonna have a three-ring circus someday.
People will say, "It's a fine one, son."
But until I get it, I'll do my thing
With government.
It's got three rings.

Trivia[]

  • In the 30th Anniversary DVD, this song was used as the background song for the "America Rock" menu.
  • This song is not included in the 1987 version of America Rock, due to Cloris Leachman’s role.
  • The artwork was made by Rowland Wilson and Arnold Roth, a political cartoonist in his 90s.
  • This episode was shelved by ABC due to its executives fearing that they would offend Congress, the U.S. government and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by comparing them to a circus.
  • Ironically, the boy is portrayed by Lynn Ahrens, despite being a WOMAN.
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