Song Lyrics

John Adams:
All right, gentlemen, let's get on with it
Which of us will write our Declaration of Independence?

Mr. Adams, I say you should write it
To your legal mind and brilliance we defer

Is that so?
Well, if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it
I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir

(Yes, I know)

But I say you should write it, Franklin
Yes, you

Hell, no

Yes, you, Dr. Franklin
You

But

You

But

You

But
Mr. Adams, but Mr. Adams
The things I write are only light extemporania
I won't put politics on paper, it's a mania
So I refuse to use the pen in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
Refuse to use the pen

Mr. Sherman, I say you should write it
You are never controversial, as it were

(That is true)

Whereas if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it
I'm obnoxious and disliked
You know that, sir

(Yes, I do)

Then I say you should write it, Roger
Yes, you

Good heavens, no!

Yes you, Roger Sherman
You

But

You

But

You

But
Mr. Adams, but Mr. Adams
I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette
I don't know a participle from a predicate
I am just a simple cobbler from Connecticut

Connecticut, Connecticut
A simple cobbler, he

Mr. Livingston, maybe you should write it
You have many friends and you're a diplomat

(Oh, that word)

Whereas if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it

He's obnoxious and disliked
Did you know that?

(I hadn't heard)

So I say you should write it, Robert
Yes, you

(Not me, Johnny)

Yes, you, Robert Livingston
You

But

You

But

You

But
Mr. Adams, dear Mr. Adams
I've been presented with a new son by the noble stork
So I am going to celebrate and pop the cork
With all the Livingstons together back in old New York

New York, New York
Livingston's going to pop a cork

(Well, Mr. Jefferson?)

Mr. Adams, leave me alone!

(Mr. Jefferson!)

(Mr. Adams, I have not seen my wife for the past six months. I beg of you, Mr. Adams)

And we solemnly declare that we will preserve our liberties
being with one mind resolve to die free men rather than to live slaves.
Thomas Jefferson, on the Necessity of Taking Up Arms, 1775. Magnificent
You write ten times better than any man in Congress
Including me. For a man of only thirty-three years
you have a happy talent of composition and a remarkable felicity of expression
Now, then, sir
Will you a patriot or a lover?

(A lover)

No!

But, I burn, Mr. A!

So do I, Mr. J!

(You?)

Roger Sherman:
(You do?)

(John!)

(Who'd have thought it?)

Mr. Jefferson
Dear Mr. Jefferson
I'm only forty-one
I still have my virility
And I can romp through Cupid's grove with great agility
But life is more than sexual combustibility

Bustibility!
Bustibility!
Combustabil

(Quiet!)

Thomas Jefferson:
Mr. Adams
Damn you, Mr. Adams
You're obnoxious and disliked
That cannot be denied

Once again you stand between me
And my lovely bride

Lovely bride!

Oh, Mr. Adams
You are driving me
To homicide!

Homicide!
Homicide!
We may see murder yet!

Sherman Edwards

The duration of But, Mr. Adams is 5:11 minutes and seconds.