"Conjunction Junction" is a song in Schoolhouse Rock!, which can be seen in Grammar Rock. The song teaches us about conjunctions. It is one of the most popular Schoolhouse Rock songs and the conductor is one of several de facto mascots of Schoolhouse Rock (specifically Grammar Rock).
The setting is a railroad junction with a conductor using conjunctions to properly link box cars, which have other words to form sentences. Two hobos (most likely inspired by George and Lennie from Of Mice and Men) are also living near the junction.
Lyrics[]
[sung] Conjunction Junction, what's your function?
Hooking up words and phrases and clauses.
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.
[spoken] "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.
[sung] 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: [spoken]
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 seas.
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: [spoken]
In the mornings, when I'm 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.
[sung] 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...
Trivia[]
- Voted #1 of the top 25 favorite Schoolhouse Rock! songs.