Science Rock[]
This song teaches about weather. This song ran into controversy with the slogan The Greatest Show on Earth used by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. When it made its appearance as a special feature on the Schoolhouse Rock! Special 30th Anniversary Edition DVD, the sections talking about the "greatest show on Earth" got cleverly edited out. They are also edited out on Disney+.
It was sung by Bob Kaliban and the female singers.
Lyrics[]
Introducing the greatest show on Earth, The Weather!
Welcome everyone, It's the weather show!
Bring your bathing suits,
Don't forget your rubbers and coats.
Folks, we guarantee the show that we perform
It is never dull if there's a lull, It's just the calm before the storm.
Watch it change from icy cold to toasty warm, And rearrange from sunny days to crazy storms. The curtain's rising, we're so glad to have you here! Come see a new show daily in the atmosphere!
ACT ONE: THE SUN!
The sun shines down On field and town! On forest, mountain, desert, sea and snow. Some heat's absorbed, Some bounces off, (ha ha ha!) So here it's hot, where there it may be cold. The heated Earth heats up the air, Just like a big hot air balloon, up up it flows. The cooler air Sneaks in below, It's heated too, now look out folks, 'cause up it goes!
The sinking air is called a "high", which means it has high pressure. Low pressure air is on the rise, and as they move together...
ACT TWO: THE WIND!
Those lows and highs, They sink and rise. The air begins to move and flow. It circulates At different rates, And that creates the winds that blow.
The highs are nice, They bring fair skies, (ah ha!) But a low will often bring you clouds or rain. And when they bump, They form a front. A changing of the weather in between.
As the highs and lows push and shove, the weather front begins to move! And if a front moves into town, it means a storm just may come down!
ACT THREE: THE HUMIDITY!
Because of heat, Drops evaporate, From lakes and rivers, puddles, even trees. The air can fill Right to the gills With water vapor, that's humidity. When clouds appear, Rain may be near, (Oooohhh!) 'Cause the vapor's cool and starting to condense. And if those drops (Oooohhh!) Begin to plop, (Plop, plop, plop!) That's precipitation, folks, you all get drenched!
That's the weather folks, You got your money's worth. Hot or cold or soakin' wet, Hey, how lucky can you get? The weather show's the greatest show, The greatest show on Earth!
Yes sir!