Elijah Kelley

Run And Tell That

Elijah Kelley


SEAWEED 
Hey Trace, my moms pitching a platter party at our record shop up off North Avenue. Wanna come "check it out"? 

PENNY 
May i also come "check it out? 

SEAWEED 
Oh, you surely may! 

TRACY 
I've never been to North Avenue! 

LINK 
would it b safe up there for, you know... us? 

SEAWEED 
Yeah dont worry cracker boy, It's cool! 

PENNY 
Imagine, being invited places by colored people! 

TRACY 
It feels so hip! 

SEAWEED 
I'm glad you feel that way, friends, 'cause not everybody does. 

I can't see 
Why people look at me 
And only see the color of my face 
yes they do 

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!! 

ENSEMBLE 
Run and tell that! 

SEAWEED 
Run and tell that! 

ENSEMBLE 
Run and tell that! 

SEAWEED (& ENSEMBLE) 
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 be nice 
But if the truth be told... 

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!! 

ENSEMBLE 
Run and tell that! 

(The scene shifts to Motormouth Maybelle's record shop dance party where her daughter Li'l Inez and her friends are already in full swing.) 

LI'L INEZ 
Hey, you're Tracy Turnblad! You're my favorite dancer on the Corny Collins Show. 

SEAWEED 
This is my sister, Li'l Inez. 

TRACY 
Yeah, I saw you at the auditions. 

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

SEAWEED 
Tell 'em about it! 

LI'L INEZ 
I'm tired of coverin' up all my pride 

SEAWEED & ENSEMBLE 
So give me five on the black-hand side 

LI'L INEZ 
I've got a new way of movin' 
And i got my own voice 

SEAWEED & ENSEMBLE 
So how can i help 
But to shout and rejoice 

LI'L INEZ 
The people 'round here 
Can barely pay their rent 
They're "try'n to make dollar 
Out 'a fifteen cent" 
But we got a spirit 
Money just cant buy 

LI'L INEZ & ENSEMBLE 
It's deep as a river 
It soars to the sky!! 

SEAWEED & ENSEMBLE 
I cant 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 a 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 

SEAWEED 
...Now run and tell that!! 

ENSEMBLE 
Run and tell that! 

SEAWEED 
Run and tell that!!