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MN90: Dave Frishberg’s Bill

Home > MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds > MN90: Dave Frishberg’s Bill

1975 – St. Paul composer and lyricist Dave Frishberg was known for hits like “I’m Hip” and “Peel Me a Grape.” Now he was being asking to write a song for a cartoon music video series, Schoolhouse Rock. And could he make the lyrics about a bill becoming a law? Here’s Britt Aamodt.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Transcript

MN90 Intro: Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.

1975, Dave Frishberg got the songwriting gig from a friend. That friend happened to be Bob Dorough, Musical Director of Schoolhouse Rock!, the animated music video series that played between Saturday morning cartoons and taught kids about math and grammar. In fact, Dorough had written a few Schoolhouse Rock! hits, "Three Is a Magic Number, “Figure Eight.” Now Schoolhouse Rock! wanted to focus on history and government, and would Frishberg want to write a song about how a bill becomes a law? The pianist and composer from St Paul was an inventive lyricist. So even though the topic was unwieldy, Dave Frishberg rolled up his sleeves and threw together a song about a bill that travels to Washington DC with dreams of becoming a law someday. This turned into the Schoolhouse Rock! classic “I’m Just a Bill.”

MN90 Outro: MN90 is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at mn90.org.