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Run and Tell That
Run and Tell That
Elijah Kelley - Hairspray (2007)

Performed by:

Seaweed

Additional Performers:

Inez and ensemble

Place:

Patterson Park High
School Bus
Motormouth Record Store

Preceded by:

Welcome to the 60's

Followed by:

Big, Blonde, and Beautiful

Run and Tell That is a song by Seaweed J. Stubbs, Inez Stubbs, and the ensemble making up the detention crew or Rhythm and Blues Day dancers.

The song starts in detention right after Seaweed invites Tracy, Penny, and Link to his house for his mother's platter party. When Link asks if it is safe for them to go to that part of town, Seaweed says that it's safe for Link and his white friends in his part of town than it would be for Seaweed and his black friends to go to the white neighborhoods of Baltimore.

This song helps to illustrate the every day racism that Seaweed, Inez, and their friends go through. Through all of it though, they retain pride in themselves and hope for the future.

The themes of this song, performed primarily by Seaweed and Inez, are later reflected in their mother's, Motormouth Maybelle's first song, Big, Blonde, and Beautiful.

Lyrics[]

(Seaweed)

I can't see why people look at me

Run_And_Tell_That_-_Hairspray_(2007)

Run And Tell That - Hairspray (2007)

And only see the color of my face

And then there's those

That try to help, god knows

But have to always put me in my place

Now I won't ask you to be color blind

'Cause if you pick the fruit

Then girl, you're sure to find  

The blacker the berry

The sweeter the juice

I could say it ain't so

But darlin', what's the use?

The darker the chocolate

The richer the taste

And that's where it's at

Now run and tell that 

(Seaweed and ensemble)

Run and tell that

Run and tell that

Run and tell that 

I can't see

Why people disagree

Each time I tell them

What I know is true

And if you come

And see the world I'm from

I bet your heart is gonna feel it too

Yeah, I could lie

But baby, let's be bold

Vanilla can be nice

But if the truth be told 

(Seaweed)

The blacker the berry

The sweeter the juice

I could say it ain't so

But darlin', what's the use

The darker the chocolate

The richer the taste

That's where it's at

Now run and tell that

Run and tell that 

(Inez  - spoken)

Hey, you're Tracy Turnblad! You're my favorite dancer on The Corny Collins Show! 

(Seaweed - spoken)

This is my sister, Li'l Inez. 

(Tracy - spoken)

Sure, I saw you at the auditions. 

(Inez  - spoken)

Well, you're the only one who did, 'cause they kicked me out on my young, gifted and black behind. 

(Seaweed - spoken))

Tell 'em about it 

(Inez)

I'm tired of coverin' up all my pride 

(Ensemble)

So give me five on the black-hand side 

(Inez)

I've got a new way of movin'

And I got my own voice 

(Ensemble)So how can I help

But to shout and rejoice 

(Inez)The people 'round here

Can barely pay their rent

They're tryin' to make dollar

Outta fifteen cent, but we got a spirit

Money just cant buy

It's deep as a river

And soars to the sky 

(Seaweed, Inez, and Ensemble)

I can't see the reason it cant be

The kinda world where we all get our chance

The time is now and we can show them how

To turn the music up and let's all dance

'Cause all things are equal

When it comes to love

Well, that ain't quite true

'Cause when push comes to shove 

The blacker the berry

The sweeter the juice

I could say it ain't so

But darlin', what's the use

The darker the chocolate

The richer the taste

That's where it's at 

Now run and tell that

Run and tell that

Run and tell that

Hairspray (2007)[]

While the lyrics are the same in both versions, the break where Inez is introduced differs. In the 2007 film, Seaweed introduces his sister, Inez to Tracy.

There is no mention of Inez auditioning, nor is she shown in the group of girls that arrive at the audition with Tracy.[1] There is also no mention of Inez being a fan of Tracy. Instead, she says, "oh I know Tracy. Good for you girl, you got on the show!" This implies that they do know each other. Tracy responds to this in the same way she does in the musical. "You better be next." This insinuates that not only do Tracy and Inez know each other, but that Tracy knows Inez wants on the The Corny Collins Show. This inconsistency could be attributed to an unfilmed or deleted scene.

In Hairspray (2007), the ensemble for this scene is made up of Duane, Hoo Hoo, Stooie, Skillet, Pearl, Tyrone, Janetta, Little Mo, Jermaine, and Rhonda.

References[]

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