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You Can't Stop the Beat
Hairspray Lyrics
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You can try to stop the seasons, girl, but you know you never will
And you can try to stop my dancing feet, but I just cannot stand still!
'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round
And my heart's keepin' time to the speed of the sound
I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way
'Cause you can't stop the beat
Ever since the whole world began
A woman found out if she shook it, she could shake up a man
And so I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with the best that I can today
'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean or the sun in the sky
You can wonder, if you wanna, but I never ask why
And you can try to hold me down, but I'll spit in your eye and say
That you can't stop the beat!
Tracy: Whaddya have to say, Penny?
Penny: I am now a checkerboard Chick!
You can't stop the river as it rushes to the sea
You can try to stop the hands of time, but you know it just won't be!
And if they try to stop us, Seaweed, I've got the NAACP
'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round
And my heart's keepin' time to the speed of sound
I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way
'Cause you can't stop the beat!
Ever since we first saw the light
A man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night
So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might today
'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean, or the rain from above
you can try to stop the paradise were dreamin' of
But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay
'Cause you can't stop the beat!
Edna: Tracy, I have a little something I'd like to add if you don't mind
You can't stop my happiness, 'cause I like the way I am
And you just can't stop my knife and fork when I see a Christmas Ham!
And if you don't like the way I look, well, I just don't give a darn!
'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round
and my hearts keepin' time to the speed of sound
I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way
'Cause you can't stop the beat
Ever since this whole world began
A woman found out if she shook it she could shake up a man
So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it the best that I can today!
'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean or the sun in the sky
You can wonder, if you wanna, but I never ask why
And you can try to hold me down, but I'll spit in your eye and say
That you can't stop the beat!
Edna: Breathe! Wilbur, be a dear. Fetch some oxygen...now!!
Motormouth Maybelle: Step aside, Miss. Buttercup! It's time to wrack this mutha up!
Oh, Oh, Oh
You can't stop today [No!]
As it comes speeding 'round the track [oooh, child yes!]
Yesterday is history [be gone!]
And it's never comin' back! [Look ahead, 'cause...]
'Cause tomorrow is a brand new day, and it don't know white from black [Yeah!]
'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round
And my heart's keepin' time to the speed of sound
I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way
'Cause you can't stop the beat!
Ever since we first saw the light,
A man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night
So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might today!
'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean, or the rain from above
They can try to stop the paradise we're dreamin' of
But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay
You can't stop the beat!
Aah, aah, aah,
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh
Come on you Von Tussles go and shake your fanny muscles!!
We can't!
Yes you can!
No we can't!
Yes you can!
Yes we can!
You can't stop the beat!
Ever since we first saw the sign
It seems Von Tussle girls are always tryin' to be someone
But now we're gonna shake and shimmy it and have some fun today!
'Cause you can't stop the Motion of the ocean or the rain from above
You can try to stop the paradise were dreamin' of
But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay!
'Cause you can't stop the beat!
You can't stop the beat
You can't stop the beat
You can't stop the beat!!
*****************************************
Blood on the pavement, what a mess!
"Is that your eyeball on my dress?"
Don't drink and drive, please keep your head,
"Or come graduation day, you'll be dead!"
Hands on the wheel, though I know its a drag
I'd hate to see that body in a body bag!
"Kids listen up, 'cause I'm a mom"
Yes, blood on the pavement will ruin your prom!
*****************************************
The song "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the musical Hairspray is all about the unstoppable power of music, dance and diversity. It encourages listeners to embrace who they are and to keep moving forward. The first verse uses the metaphor of an avalanche and the changing seasons to illustrate the unstoppable nature of life. The second verse talks about the power of dance by referencing the historical use of dance as a means for women to liberate themselves. The chorus speaks to the universal nature of music and how it inspires people to move and feel. The bridge teaches listeners that yesterday is history, and tomorrow is a brand new day with endless possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't stop an avalanche as it races down the hill
Things with momentum are unstoppable, even when you want them to be.
You can try to stop the seasons, girl, but you know you never will
Certain things are set in motion, and trying to stop them is futile.
And you can try to stop my dancing feet, but I just cannot stand still!
I'm not going to stop moving and enjoying myself, no matter what you say or do.
'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round
Life never stops moving forward and changing.
And my heart's keepin' time to the speed of the sound
I'm feeling the rhythm of the moment and enjoying the excitement it brings.
I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way
Music and rhythm can be a guiding force and bring a sense of direction.
'Cause you can't stop the beat
The power and energy of the moment can't be stifled or contained.
A woman found out if she shook it, she could shake up a man
Women have long known they have power and influence, and can use it to create change.
And so I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with the best that I can today
I'm going to celebrate my power and confidence by expressing myself through movement and dance.
'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean or the sun in the sky
Some things are uncontrollable and will happen no matter what we do.
You can wonder, if you wanna, but I never ask why
Some things don't need explanation or justification, they just are what they are.
And you can try to hold me down, but I'll spit in your eye and say
I'm not going to let anyone else dictate my life or my choices.
That you can't stop the beat!
The energy and vitality of life is something that can never be tamed, even in the face of opposition.
You can't stop the river as it rushes to the sea
Nature will continue doing what it does, no matter who tries to stop it.
You can try to stop the hands of time, but you know it just won't be!
Time is always moving forward and can't be stopped, no matter how hard we try.
And if they try to stop us, Seaweed, I've got the NAACP
In the face of outside opposition, we have the power of community and solidarity.
Ever since we first saw the light
Since the beginning of time, humans have been celebrating and expressing themselves through dance and movement.
A man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night
Dance has been a social and romantic activity throughout history.
So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might today!
I'm going to embrace my love of dance and let it be a force of joy and empowerment in my life.
And you just can't stop my knife and fork when I see a Christmas Ham!
I'm going to enjoy life's pleasures, even if someone else tries to shame me for it.
And if you don't like the way I look, well, I just don't give a darn!
I'm not going to let someone else's judgment dictate how I live my life.
Come on you Von Tussles go and shake your fanny muscles!!
If you want to join me in dancing and enjoying life, then come on and let's do it together!
We can't!
Some people are too stuck in their own ways to join in the fun and excitement of life.
Yes you can!
But they have the power to overcome their own limitations if they choose to.
No we can't!
Some people will never learn to embrace the beauty and vitality of life.
Yes we can!
But we can always choose to try and do better.
You can't stop the beat!
The power and joy of life is something that can never be contained or stifled.
Blood on the pavement will ruin your prom!
Be responsible and make safe choices so that you can enjoy life's celebrations without facing negative consequences.
Contributed by Charlie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.