
"Dollars and Sense" is a song in Schoolhouse Rock!, which can be seen in Money Rock. The song teaches us about interest and loans.
Lyrics[]
Becky-Sue (v.o.):
You know, I love country music, and I practice daily
On my out-of-tune cockamamie ukulele
But my daily ukulele playin' ain't gonna get me far
I need a guitar, an amp, and some quadraphonics,
And several hundred dollars worth of electronics
If I'm ever gonna get to be a country western star
Gotta get me some dollars and sense, dollars and sense
Them greenback bills with the pictures of the Presidents.
Banker (v.o.):
Now, I hear you squawkin', Miss Becky-Sue
Why don't you drop by the bank and I'll explain to you
How you can make more dollars if you use a little common sense?
Chill out, young lady, no need to fret
Although you can't afford to buy that new equipment yet
You got a couple hundred bucks saved up in your birthday stash
Why not deposit them dollars in the bank instead?
Then at the end of the year you'll come out way ahead
Because the bank'll pay you money in exchange for the use of your cash
And that's called interest
You're makin' money that way
And you can buy that gear about a year from today
Becky-Sue (v.o.):
Savin' sounds mighty nifty, Mister Banker Dude
You know I'd like to be thrifty, but I ain't in the mood
I'm inspired and I'm writin' me a brand-new country song.
I got a lot o' country western in my blood,
Like Reba and Loretta and Wynonna Judd;
Gotta get me that equipment, And I ain't about to wait too long
Both (v.o.):
Gotta get me some dollars and sense, dollars and sense
Them greenback bills with the pictures of the Presidents.
Becky-Sue (v.o.):
So please, Mister Banker, won't you tell me how
I can get my mitts on some money right now
'Cause waitin' for my dollars doesn't really seem to make much sense
Banker (v.o.):
Why sure, Becky-Sue, I can give you a hand
I can lend you the money, but you must understand
When you borrow from the bank, then you gotta pay it back on time
And when you're done payin' back every dollar that's due
You will find you paid 'em back a little extra or two
For every dollar you borrow, you gotta pay the bank a dollar and a dime
Again, that's interest
And it's just a fee
You pay to use the money that you borrow from me
Both (v.o.):
We're talkin' 'bout dollars and sense, dollars and sense
Them greenback bills with the pictures of the Presidents
Since life is one experience that spares us no expense
Gotta use them dollars with a little bit of common sense.
We gotta use them dollars with a little bit of common sense
Becky-Sue:
Are you sure Dolly Parton started this way?
Trivia[]
- Voted #18 of the top 25 favorite Schoolhouse Rock! songs.