Schoolhouse Rock!

"Verb: That's What's Happening"

Original Air Date

October 13, 1973

A song of the same topic was proposed by Dave Frishberg, but denied. The song, a parody of Shaft and other blaxploitation films and songs, features a young boy who learns about about verbs from a movie starring his favorite superhero, Verb. This song was voted the 24th best song on the 30th Anniversary DVD Top 25.

Verb: That's What's Happening Lyrics

I get my thing in action (Verb!)

To be, to sing, to feel, to live (Verb!)

That's what's happening

I put my heart in action (Verb!)

To run, to go, to get, to give (Verb!)

(You're what's happening)

That's where I find satisfaction, yeah! (Yeah!)

To search, to find, to have, to hold

(Verb! To be bold)

When I use my imagination (Verb!)

I think, I plot, I plan, I dream

Turning in towards creation (Verb!)

I make, I write, I dance, I sing

When I'm feeling really active (Verb!)

I run, I ride, I swim, I fly!

Other times when life is easy

(Oh!) I rest, I sleep, I sit, I lie

(Verb! That's what's happening)

I can take a noun and bend it

Give me a noun

(Bat, ball, rake, and plow)

Make it a verb and really send it!

(Show me how)

Oh, I don't know my own power (Verb!)

I get my thing in action (Verb!)

In being (Verb!)

In doing (Verb!)

In saying

A verb expresses action, being, or state of being

A verb makes a statement

Yeah, a verb tells it like it is!

(Verb! That's what's happening)

I can tell you when it's happening

(Past, present, future tense)

Oh! Tell you more about what's happening

(Say it so it makes some sense)

I can tell you who is happening!

(Verb, you're so intense)

Every sentence has a subject

(Noun, person, place, or thing)

Find that subject: where's the action?

(Verb can make a subject sing)

Take the subject: what is it? (What!)

What's done to it? (What!)

What does it say?

(Verb, you're what's happening)

I can question like: what is it?

(Verb, you're so demanding.)

I can order like: go get it!

(Verb, you're so commanding)

When I hit, I need an object

(Verb, hit! Hit the ball!)

When I see, I see the object

(Do you see that furthest wall?)

If you can see it there, put the ball over the fence, man!

Go ahead, yeah, all right

What?! He hit it - it's going, it's going, it's gone!

(What!)

I get my thing in action

(Verb, that's what's happening)

To work (Verb!)

To play (Verb!)

To live (Verb!)

To love (Verb!)