You Can't Stop the Beat

"You Can't Stop the Beat" is the finale number in the 2002 Broadway musical Hairspray. It is sung by Tracy, Link, Penny, Seaweed, Edna, Motor Mouth, Velma, and Amber with Corny and Wilbur as backing singers.

Production
The song was edited for the 2007 film. Notably the Von Tussle section was removed. It was shot however, and is featured as a bonus feature on the DVD.

Lyrics
You can't stop an avalanche

As it races down the hill

You can try to stop the seasons, girl

But you know you never will

And you can try to stop my dancin' feet

But I just cannot stand still

'Cause the world keeps spinning 'round and 'round

And my heart's keeping time

To the speed of sound

I was lost 'til I heard the drums

Then I found my way

'Cause you can't stop the beat

Ever since this whole world began

A woman found out if she shook it

She could shake up a man

And so I'm gonna shake and shimmy it

The best that I can today

'Cause you cant stop the motion of the ocean

Or the sun in the sky

You can wonder if you wanna, but I never ask why

And if you try to hold me down I'm gonna spit in your eye and say

That you can't stop the beat!

You can't stop the river as it rushes to the sea

You can try to stop the hands of time, but you know it just can't be!

And if they try to stop us, Seaweed, I've got the N double A.C.P.

'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round

And my heart's keepin' time to the speed of sound

I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way

'Cause you can't stop the beat!

Ever since we first saw the light

A man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night

So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might today

'Cause you cant stop the motion of the ocean or the rain from above

You can try to stop the paradise we're dreamin' of

But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay

'Cause you cant stop the beat!

You can't stop my happiness, 'cause I like the way I am

And you just can't stop my knife and fork when I see a Christmas Ham!

So, if you don't like the way I look, well, I just don't give a damn!

'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round

And my hearts keepin' time to the speed of sound

I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way

'Cause you can't stop the beat

Ever since this whole world began

A woman found out if she shook it she could shake up a man

And so I'm gonna shake and shimmy it the best that I can today!

'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean or the sun in the sky

You can wonder, if you wanna, but I never ask why

And if you try to hold me down, I'm gonna spit in your eye and say

That you can't stop the beat!

Oh, Oh, Oh

You can't stop today (No!)

As it comes speeding 'round the track (oooh, child yes!)

Yesterday is history (be gone!)

And it's never comin' back! (look ahead, 'cause)

'Cause tomorrow is a brand new day, and it don't know white from black (yeah!)

'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round

And my heart's keepin' time to the speed of sound

I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way

'Cause you can't stop the beat!

Ever since we first saw the light

A man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night

So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might today!

'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean, or the rain from above

They can try to stop the paradise we're dreamin' of

But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay

'Cause you can't stop the beat!

Aah, aah, aah

Ahh, ahh, ahh

Ahh, ahh, ahh ahh

Ever since we first saw the sign

A man or woman like to shake it when the day is ooh ooh

And so we're gonna shake and shimmy it and have some fun today!

'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean or the rain from above

You can try to stop the paradise we're dreamin' of

But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay!

'Cause you can't stop the beat!

You can't stop the beat

You can't stop the beat

You can't stop the beat

You can't stop the beat