Schoolhouse Rock!

"Conjunction Junction"

Original Air Date

November 17, 1973

This song marked Jack Sheldon's debut in the series and was voted the #1 best song from the Top 25 on the 30th Anniversary DVD. In a railyard, a train conductor shows us how conjunctions work by hooking up boxcars with one of three conjunction boxcars: AND, BUT and OR. This song was also featured on the Glee episode "The Substitute."

Lyrics to Conjunction Junction

Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Conjunction Junction, how's that function?

I got three favorite cars

That get most of my job done.

Conjunction Junction, what's their function?

I got "and", "but", and "or",

They'll get you pretty far.

"And":

That's an additive, like "this and that".

"But":

That's sort of the opposite,

"Not this *but* that".

And then there's "or":

O-R, when you have a choice like

"This or that".

"And", "but", and "or",

Get you pretty far.

Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up two boxcars and making 'em run right.

Milk and honey, bread and butter, peas and rice.

Hey that's nice!

Dirty but happy, digging and scratching,

Losing your shoe and a button or two.

He's poor but honest, sad but true,

Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up two cars to one

When you say something like this choice:

"Either now or later"

Or no choice:

"Neither now nor ever"

Hey that's clever!

Eat this or that, grow thin or fat,

Never mind, I wouldn't do that,

I'm fat enough now!

Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up phrases and clauses that balance, like:

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

He cut loose the sandbags,

But the balloon wouldn't go any higher.

Let's go up to the mountains,

Or down to the sea.

You should always say "thank you",

Or at least say "please".

Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up words and phrases and clauses

In complex sentences like:

"In the mornings, when I am usually wide awake,

I love to take a walk through the gardens and down by the lake,

Where I often see a duck and a drake,

And I wonder as I walk by

Just what they'd say if they could speak,

Although I know that's an absurd thought."

Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up cars and making 'em function.

Conjunction Junction, how's that function?

I like tying up words and phrases and clauses.

Conjunction Junction, watch that function.

I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.

Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.

Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.