Everyone's A Little Bit Racist
Original Broadway Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say, Kate, can I ask you a question?
KATE MONSTER
Sure!
PRINCETON
Well, you know Trekkie Monster upstairs?
KATE MONSTER
Uh huh!
PRINCETON
Well, he's Trekkie Monster, and you're Kate Monster.
KATE MONSTER
Right.
PRINCETON
You're both Monsters.
KATE MONSTER
Yeah.
PRINCETON
Are you two related?
KATE MONSTER
What! Princeton I'm surprised at you! I find that racist!
PRINCETON
Oh, well, I'm sorry! I was just asking.
KATE MONSTER
Well, it's a touchy subject. Now, now all Monsters are related.
What are you trying to say, huh? --
That we all look the same to you? Huh, huh, huh?
PRINCETON
No, no, no, not at all. I'm sorry, I guess that was a little racist.
KATE MONSTER
I should say so. You should be much more careful when you're
Talking about the sensitive subject of race.
PRINCETON
Well, look who's talking!
KATE MONSTER
What do you mean?
PRINCETON
What about that special Monster School you told me about?
KATE MONSTER
What about it?
PRINCETON
Could someone like me go there?
KATE MONSTER
No, we don't want people like you --
PRINCETON
You see?!
(sung)
You're a little bit racist.
KATE MONSTER
Well, you're a little bit, too.
PRINCETON
I guess we're both a little bit racist.
KATE MONSTER
Admitting it is not an easy thing to do...
PRINCETON
But I guess it's true
KATE MONSTER
Between me and you, I think
BOTH
Everyone's a little bit
Racist, sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go around committing
Hate crimes.
Look around and
You will find,
No one's really
Color-blind.
Maybe it's a fact
We all should face.
Everyone makes
Judgments...
Based on race.
(spoken)
PRINCETON
Not big judgments, like who to hire or who to buy a newspaper from --
KATE MONSTER
No!
PRINCETON
No, just little judgments like thinking that Mexican busboys
Should learn to speak goddamn English!
KATE MONSTER
Right!
(sung)
BOTH
Everyone's a little
Bit racist -- today,
So, everyone's a little
Big racist -- okay!
Ethnic jokes might
Be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They're based on truth.
Don't take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them --
So relax!
(spoken)
PRINCETON
All right, stop me if you've heard this one.
There's a plane going down and there's only one parachute.
And there's a rabbi, a priest...
KATE MONSTER
... and a BLACK guy!
GARY COLEMAN
Whatchoo talkin' about Kate?
KATE MONSTER
Uh --
GARY COLEMAN
You were telling a BLACK joke!
PRINCETON
Well, sure, Gary, but lost of people tell black jokes...
GARY COLEMAN
I don't.
PRINCETON
Well, of course you don't -- you're black!
But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right?
GARY COLEMAN
Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!
PRINCETON
Don't you think that's a little racist?
GARY COLEMAN
Well, damn, I guess you're right.
(sung)
KATE MONSTER
You're a little bit racist.
GARY COLEMAN
Well, you're a little bit, too.
PRINCETON
We're all a little bit racist.
GARY COLEMAN
I think that I would have to agree with you.
PRINCETON & KATE MONSTER
We're glad you do.
GARY COLEMAN
It's sad, but true!
Everyone's a little bit racist -- all right!
Bigotry has never been exclusively white --
ALL
If we all could
Just admit
That we are racist
A little bit,
Even though we all
Know that it's wrong,
Maybe it would help
Us get along!
(spoken)
PRINCETON
Christ, do I feel good!
GARY COLEMAN
Now there was a fine upstanding black man!
PRINCETON
Who?
GARY COLEMAN
Jesus Christ!
KATE MONSTER
But Gary, Jesus was white!
GARY COLEMAN
No, Jesus was black.
KATE MONSTER
No, Jesus was white!
GARY COLEMAN
No, I'm pretty sure Jesus was black!
PRINCETON
Guys -- Jesus was Jewish!
BRIAN
Hey guys, what are you laughing about?
GARY COLEMAN
Racism!
BRIAN
Cool.
CHRISTMAS EVE
Brian! You come back here! You take out lecycuraburs!
PRINCETON
What's that mean?
BRIAN
Um. Recyclables.
(Everyone laughs)
Hey, don't laugh at her! How many languages do you speak?
KATE MONSTER
Oh, come off it, Brian!
(sung)
Everyone's a little bit racist.
BRIAN
I'm not!
PRINCETON
Oh, no?
BRIAN
Nope! How many oriental wives have you got?
CHRISTMAS EVE
What? Brian!
PRINCETON
Brian, buddy,
Where you been?
The term is Asian-American!
CHRISTMAS EVE
I know you are
No intending to be,
But calling me
Oriental -- offensive to me!
(spoken)
BRIAN
I'm sorry honey, I love you.
CHRISTMAS EVE
And I love you.
BRIAN
But you're racist, too.
CHRISTMAS EVE
Yes, I know.
(sung)
The Jews have all
The money
And the whites have
All the power
And I'm always in
Taxi-cab with driver
Who no shower!
PRINCETON
Me too!
KATE MONSTER
Me too!
GARY COLEMAN
I can't even get a taxi!
ALL
Everyone's a little bit
Racist, it's true.
But everyone is just about
As racist as you!
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
And everyone
Stopped being so P.C.,
Maybe we could
Live in -- harmony!
CHRISTMAS EVE
Ev'lyone's a ritter bit lacist!
The song "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist" from the musical Avenue Q is a commentary on the ubiquity of racism and prejudice, even among people who consider themselves to be liberal and open-minded. The song is a conversation between the characters Princeton, Kate Monster and Gary Coleman and centers around the idea that while racism is wrong, it's difficult to eliminate it completely from our thoughts and behaviors. The characters have a candid discussion about racism, making jokes about different races and cultures and acknowledging their own biases. The song portrays an uncomfortable and candid conversation about how we all have preconceived notions and judgments based on race, and that acknowledging and confronting them is the first step to real progress in creating a more inclusive and tolerant society.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, Kate, can I ask you a question?
Princeton asks Kate whether Trekkie Monster and Kate are related because they are both Monsters.
Well, it's a touchy subject. Now, now all Monsters are related.
Kate thinks Princeton's question about her relation to Trekkie Monster is racist and that not all Monsters are related.
That we all look the same to you? Huh, huh, huh?
Kate thinks Princeton is assuming that all Monsters look the same when he asks whether she and Trekkie Monster are related.
No, we don't want people like you -- You see?!
Kate says that Princeton is not allowed to attend the Monster School and accuses him of being racist against Monsters.
Everyone's a little bit racist. Well, you're a little bit, too.
Princeton and Kate admit that everyone has some level of racism in them, including themselves.
Everyone makes Judgments...Based on race.
Princeton and Kate agree that people tend to make judgments about others based on their race.
Everyone enjoys them --So relax!
Princeton thinks that people enjoy ethnic jokes and that they should not be taken personally.
Whatchoo talkin' about Kate? You were telling a BLACK joke!
Gary Coleman accuses Kate of telling a black joke and thinks that it is racist.
We're all a little bit racist.
Gary Coleman, Princeton, and Kate all admit that they have some level of racism.
If we all could Just admit That we are racist A little bit...
Princeton, Kate, and Gary Coleman think that people should admit their racism in order to get along better.
Hey, don't laugh at her! How many languages do you speak?
Brian defends Christmas Eve and asks how many languages anyone else can speak.
I'm sorry honey, I love you. And I love you. But you're racist, too.
Brian and Christmas Eve admit that they love each other but also have some level of racism.
If we all could just admit That we are racist a little bit, And everyone Stopped being so P.C.,
Princeton, Kate, Gary Coleman, and others believe that people should admit their racism and be less politically correct in order to create harmony.
Everyone's a ritter bit lacist!
In the end, everyone admits that they have some level of racism.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BeanBag343
Here's a breakdown of the life-lessons learned from watching this musical:
1) Why do we put so much enthusiasm and money towards getting a college degree when we still can't get jobs since we don't have experience? Maybe we need to rethink the system.
2) You think your life sucks? Well guess what, mine does too. Literally everyone's life sucks in some way, shape, or form. Glass half-full, we all have that in common!
3) Even if you're pretty sure your friend is gay, forcing them to admit it is never a good idea because they could feel shame, embarrassment, and it could make them stay in the closet longer.
4) Be optimistic about your future
5) Everyone is a little bit racist, no one is color-blind, and while it might not be right, we all do it because it's human nature.
6) It may seem gross to you, but tons of people watch porn on the internet. It's just a fact and there's no harm in it.
7) Try not to send mixed-signals to a potential partner because it can be beyond confusing and mess with their emotions.
8) If you want to be a successful comedian, you have to do more than toilet and locker room humor
9) Do not underestimate the vocal abilities of Sesame Street puppeteers
10) You can be as loud as the hell you want when you're making love
11) Some dreams can come true if you open your mind to them
12) Don't tell a lie unless you can make it 100% believable
13) There's a fine line between love and a waste of time, a lover or a friend, reality and pretend
14) Spend time on yourself because you deserve it
15) If you're feeling depressed, you can't expect things to change just by sitting around your house/ apartment
16) Just because you're in love with someone doesn't mean you're always going to get along
17) Everyone laughs at the misfortune of others. It's human nature
18) College is a special time so enjoy it while you can. Also we need to stop stigmatizing older adults for wanting to go back to school.
19) Helping others makes people come together and makes you feel good
20) Donating to a good cause can help you find closure for bad events in your life
21) Forgiveness pays off
22) Everything in life, both bad and good, doesn't last. Bad moments won't last forever, so keep your chin up. However, good times don't last forever either, so enjoy them while they last.
@UbermenschTF2
"Hey guys what are ya laughing at?" "Racism!" "COOL!"
@Native_Beats_
Übermensch same
@pieflinger42069
I miss and love this Broadway cast.
@cptredhorse5156
I frickn DIED 🤣🤣🤣
@rileyelio1440
jake tarder same
@austinkuklinski6354
The first time I ever saw avenue a that line in particular made me cry laughing
@lilrammaful
"I can't even get a taxi!" xD BEST LINE EVER
@solaris6428
Lol
@nanaAnn96
I Died 😂😂
@nth460
+lilrammaful I don't get it, can you explain