"The Check's in the Mail" is a song in Schoolhouse Rock!, which can be seen in the short, "Money Rock". The song teaches us how to use checks. It was written by Bob Dorough, and sung by Luther Rix. Bob Dorough voices the mailman speaking about how checks are sent by mail.
Lyrics
The check's in the mail
The check is in the mail
And it ought to be there Tuesday without fail
If you have got a bill to pay
Or something you need to buy
Just write the check and send it off in the mail
Millions of Americans go out every day
With a checkbook in their purse
They might have a little cash to pay for their lunch
And a little to get home on the bus
But if they suddenly decide to make a purchase or shop
They whip it out and write out the exact amount
With some I.D., then they sign it
And they walk out with the stuff
That they paid for with their checking account
The check's in the mail
The check is in the mail
And it ought to be there Wednesday without fail
When you need to send some money
Do what business folk do
Just write a check and send it off in the mail
Every month you've got a little bundle to pay
Like the rent, the lights, the phone, and the car
Write 'em out for each amount and send 'em away
With an envelope and stamp they'll go far
It really is a safer way for you to pay all your bills
And so you ought to open up your own account
Your check is just a written order only you can write
That tells your bank to pay someone a certain amount
The check's in the mail
The check is in the mail
And it ought to be there Thursday without fail
You can keep your money moving with a flick of the wrist
And you're happy that the check's in the mail
Mailman: Now you may wonder what happens when you send a check to someone, and how it gets back to your bank. Well, that someone deposits your check into their account and then, through an electronic flow of digital information, your check is cleared by a central bank and comes back to your bank where, at that point, the amount is deducted from your account and paid over to theirs. So it's obvious that you've got to keep enough money in your checking account to stay in the black. Otherwise, you'll write a "hot check" and that sucker's gonna bounce -- and that's illegal!
Once a month your bank will send a statement to you
So you'll know just where you stand
Listing all your checks and charges and deposits too
To help you stay ahead and keep things in hand
And you should learn to be real careful with your checkbook and your checks
And keep track of every little amount
Now you compare your figures with the bank's
And if it all adds up
Then you can say that you have balanced your account
The check's in the mail
The check is in the mail
And it's got to be there Friday without fail
But just remember that you've got to have some income coming in
Before you send out all those checks in the mail
I'm sure it'll be there next week sometime!