Holliday landed her first big role on Broadway in 1980, when she landed her first notable role in the Broadway production of Your Arms Too Short To Box With God. Her performance in that musical earned her a 1981 Drama Desk nomination. Her next role was the role for which she is best known: the role of Effie Melody White in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Holliday joined the show in December 1981 and remained with the show for nearly four years. Her performance in the role was widely acclaimed, particularly in her iconic performance of the musical number that ends Act I, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going".
Among the acclaim was Holliday's sweep of awards in 1982, including the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, a Grammy award for her recorded version of the song, and Drama Desk and Theater World awards for the performance. Holliday also performed in the touring company of "Sing, Mahalia, Sing" in 1986.
And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
Jennifer Holliday Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not going
You're the best man I'll ever know
There's no way I can ever go
No, no, no, no way
No, no, no, no way I'm livin' without you
I'm not livin' without you
I don't want to be free
I'm stayin'
And you, and you, you're gonna love me
Oh, you're gonna love me
And I am telling you
I'm not going
Even though the rough times are showing
There's just no way
There's no way
We're part of the same place
We're part of the same time
We both share the same blood
We both have the same mind
And time and time we have so much to share
No, no, no, no, no
I'm not wakin' up tomorrow mornin'
And findin' that there's nobody there
Darling, there's no way
No, no, no, no way I'm livin' without you
I'm not livin' without you
You see, there's just no way
There's no way
Tear down the mountains
Yell, scream and shout
You can say what you want
I'm not walkin' out
Stop all the rivers
Push, strike, and kill
I'm not gonna leave you
There's no way I will
And I am telling you
I'm not going
You're the best man I'll ever know
There's no way I could ever, ever go
No, no, no, no way
No, no, no, no way I'm livin' without you
Oh, I'm not livin' without you
I'm not livin' without you
I don't wanna be free
I'm stayin'
I'm stayin'
And you, and you, and you
You're gonna love me
Oh, yeah, you're gonna love me
Yes, you are, love me
Oh, oh, oh, love me
Love me
Love me
Love me
Love me
You're gonna love
Me
The song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, is a powerful and emotional ballad that speaks of someone who is deeply committed to the person they love and refuses to leave them. The lyrics suggest that the singer has experienced rejection and is determined to hold on to the person who makes her feel complete, no matter what obstacles they face. The opening lines, "I am telling you I'm not going/ You're the best man I'll ever know" set the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the singer's passionate devotion to her partner.
Throughout the song, the singer insists that there is no way she can ever leave her partner or live without him, using repetition to drive home the message. She acknowledges that there are rough times ahead, but believes that they are meant to be together and nothing can come between them. She declares that they are "part of the same place" and "part of the same time," and that they share "the same blood" and "the same mind," emphasizing their deep emotional connection.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as the singer pleads with her partner not to let her go. She insists that he will love her and that she is staying with him no matter what. The final lines of the song suggest a sense of triumph and completion, as the singer declares that her partner will love her and that she refuses to be without him.
The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Jennifer Hudson in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls, and has become a staple of musical theater and popular music. It is known for its raw emotion, powerful vocals, and soulful melody.
Line by Line Meaning
And I am telling you
I need to express my feelings to you
I'm not going
I'm not leaving you
You're the best man I'll ever know
You are the most important person in my life
There's no way I can ever go
I can never leave you
No, no, no, no way
Absolutely not
No, no, no, no way I'm livin' without you
I cannot live without you
I'm not livin' without you
I refuse to live without you
I don't want to be free
I want to be with you
I'm stayin'
I'm not leaving
And you, and you, you're gonna love me
You will eventually love me
Even though the rough times are showing
Despite the difficulties we are facing
There's just no way
It's impossible
We're part of the same place
We belong together
We're part of the same time
We are meant to be together
We both share the same blood
We are connected by blood and love
We both have the same mind
We think alike and share the same dreams
And time and time we have so much to share
We have many experiences and memories together
No, no, no, no, no
Absolutely not
I'm not wakin' up tomorrow mornin'
I can't imagine a future without you
And findin' that there's nobody there
I can't bear the thought of being alone
Darling, there's no way
My love for you is too strong
Tear down the mountains
Even the biggest obstacles won't stop me
Yell, scream and shout
I will do whatever it takes to stay with you
You can say what you want
Your words won't change my mind
I'm not walkin' out
I'm not leaving you
Stop all the rivers
Even nature won't stop me from being with you
Push, strike, and kill
I will face any danger to be with you
I'm not gonna leave you
I'm not going to abandon you
There's no way I will
I will never leave you
You're gonna love me
You will eventually love me
Oh, yeah, you're gonna love me
I'm sure you will love me
Yes, you are, love me
I know you will love me
Oh, oh, oh, love me
Love me
Love me
Love me
Love me
Love me
Love me
Love me
You're gonna love
You will love me
Me
Me
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Henry Krieger, Tom Eyen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
2bloved2belong
Y te estoy diciendo
que no me iré
Tu eres el mejor hombre que jamás conoceré
No hay forma que pueda ir
No, no, no hay forma
No, no, no, no hay forma en que viva sin tí
No me iré sin tí
No quiero ser libre
Me quedo
Me quedo
Y tú, y tú
Me amarás, ooh oh mm mm
Me amarás
Y te estoy diciendo
que no me iré
Aunque los tiempos difíciles se están mostrando
No hay forma, no hay forma
Somos parte del mismo lugar
Somos parte del mismo tiempo
Ambos compartimos la mism
a sangre
Ambos tneemos la misma mente
Y tiempo en tiempo, tenemos mucho que ver y
No, no, no, no, no, no
No me despertaré mañana en la mañana y descubrir que nadie está aquí
Y me refiero a que no hay forma
No, no, no, no hay forma en que viva sin tí
No viviré sin tí
Tú verás que no hay forma, no hay forma
Derribo las montañas
Grito, grito y grito como sí no pudieras decir que quieres
No me iré
Detendré todos los ríos, empujaré, golpearé y mataré
No me iré sin tí
No hay forma que lo haré
Y te estoy diciendo
que no me iré
Tu eres el mejor hombre que jamás conoceré
No hay forma que pueda ir
No, no, no hay forma
No, no, no, no hay forma en que viva sin tí
Oh, no viviré sin tí, no viviré sin tí
No quiero ser libre
Me quedo, me quedo
Y tú, y tú, y tú
Me amarás
Me amarás, sí lo harás
Oooh ámame, ooh ámame
Ámame, ámame, ámame, ámame
Me amaras
Analogue library
This is a new and improved transfer of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn5zoivCYVg
Naza Ardilla
disini maaa....a di satunya lagi miii.....i...
Melanie Monk
How can they improve on perfection:?
Pamela Moore
Still gives me chills
Thelma Spears
.
Phyllis Pittman
She is great,boy does he have lungs I loved her.
Gabriella Letessier
She was 22 and a Broadway legend, I'm 22 and I'm crying, eating popcorn and watching this masterpiece ...
Peter Patton
🤣
A Beck
😂😂 best comment ♥️
Ande Leon
Was she 22 here? Damn that voice