Without Love takes place as Tracy and Penny are being rescued in the second act. Although the exact context varies between stage and film versions, the song serves as both a confession of love between both Link and Tracy and Seaweed and Penny, as well as a rallying point for our characters following their lowest points in the story.
In the musical, Tracy is in prison (as seen in The Big Dollhouse), and Link comes to break her out. Meanwhile, Penny has been imprisoned in her bedroom by her mother, and Seaweed comes to rescue her. In the 2007 film, this is simplified with Tracy being a fugitive from the law and both her and Penny being imprisoned by Prudy at The Pingleton Family's home. Seaweed rescues them both, while Link is at The Turnblad Family's home hoping to find Tracy.
Lyrics (musical)[]
(SEAWEED - spoken)
Psst, Penny! What happened?
(PENNY - spoken)
My mother's punishing me for going to jail without permission!
(SEAWEED - spoken)
Well, I'm here to save the fair maiden in her tower.
(PENNY - spoken)
Oh, Seaweed!
(LINK - spoken)
Tracy, you took beautiful behind bars!
(TRACY - spoken)
It must be the low-watt institutional lighting!
(LINK - spoken)
Oh Tracy, they can keep us from kissing, but they can't stop us from singing!
(LINK)
Once i was a selfish fool
Who never understood
I never looked inside myself
Though on the outside, i looked good!
Then we met and you made me
The man I am today
Tracy, I'm in love with you
No matter what you weigh
'Cause...
(LINK & ENSEMBLE)
Without love
Life is like the seasons with no summer
Without love
Life is rock 'n' roll without a drummer
Tracy, I'll be yours forever
'Cause I never wanna be
Without love
Tracy, never set me free
No, I ain't lyin'
Never set me free, Tracy,
No, no, no!!
(TRACY)
Once I was a simple girl
Then stardom came to me
But I was still a nothing
Though a thousand fans may disagree
(ENSEMBLE)
Tracy!
(TRACY)
Fame was just a prison
Signing autographs a bore
I didn't have a clue
'Til you came banging on my door
(TRACY & ENSEMBLE)
That without love
Life is like my dad without his bromo
Without love
Life is making out with Perry Como!
Darling, I'll be yours forever
'Cause i never wanna be
Without love
So darling, throw away the key
(LINK & TRACY)
I'm yours forever
(TRACY)
Throw away the key
(LINK, TRACY & ENSEMBLE)
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
(SEAWEED)
Living in the ghetto
Black is everywhere ya go
Who'd 've thought I'd love a girl
With skin as white as winter's snow
(PENNY)
In my ivory tower
Life was just a Hostess snack
But now I've tasted chocolate
And I'm never going back
(PENNY & SEAWEED & ENSEMBLE)
'Cause without love
(SEAWEED)
Life is like a beat that you can't follow
(PENNY & SEAWEED & ENSEMBLE)
Without love
(PENNY)
Life is Doris Day at the Apollo
(PENNY & SEAWEED & ENSEMBLE)
Darling, I'll be yours forever
'Cause I never wanna be
Without love
(SEAWEED)
So darling, never set me free
(PENNY & SEAWEED)
I'm yours forever
Never set me free
(PENNY & SEAWEED & ENSEMBLE)
No, no, no!
(LINK)
If you're locked up in this prison, Trace
I don't know what I'll do
(TRACY)
Link, I've got to break out
So that I can get my hands on you
(SEAWEED)
And girl, if I can't touch you
Now I'm gonna lose control
(PENNY)
Seaweed, you're my black white knight
I've found my blue-eyed soul
(SEAWEED & ENSEMBLE)
Sweet freedom is our goal!
(LINK)
Trace, i wanna kiss ya!
(TRACY)
Then i can't wait for parole!
(ALL)
'Cause without love
(SEAWEED)
Life is like a prom that won't invite us
(ALL)
Without love
(LINK)
Life's getting my big break and laryngitis
(ALL)
Without love
(PENNY)
Life's a '45' when you can't buy it
(ALL)
Without love
(TRACY)
Life is like my mother on a diet
(ALL)
Like a week that's only Mondays
Only ice cream never sundaes
Like a circle with no center
Like a door marked "Do Not Enter!"
Darling, I'll be yours forever
'Cause I never wanna be...
Without love
(PENNY & LINK)
Yes now you've captured me
(ENSEMBLE)
Without love
(SEAWEED & TRACY)
I surrender happily
(ENSEMBLE)
Without love
(PENNY)
Oh seaweed
(ALL)
Never set me free
(PENNY & SEAWEED)
No, no, no
(TRACY & LINK)
No, I ain't lyin'
(PENNY & SEAWEED)
Never set me free
(ALL)
No, no, no
No, I don't wanna live without
(PENNY)
Love, love, love
(LINK)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
(ALL)
Darling, you had best believe me,
Never leave me..
Without love!
Videos[]
