From DREAMGIRLS
Written by Henry Krieger & Tom Eyen
“Dreamgirls” was one of the most successful Broadway shows of the eighties. The story of a black girls’ group of the sixties and its rise to stardom was inspired by the story of the Supremes. It scored big at the box office and the cast recording garnered huge sales.David Foster was picked as the producer of the recording marking his first attempt in the field. Foster had some good experience having been the musical director of the original cast performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” back in the early seventies.
Jennifer Holliday was a newcomer to Broadway and quickly became the star of “Dreamgirls” with her powerful voice and very intense performances. The absolute showstopper is “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” the desperate cry of a woman who knows she’s losing her man. Holliday is simply outstanding here and Foster’s grand production helps her build the dramatic mood. This tune became her signature song, reaching #1 on the R & B charts and was also a good pop hit. It gave Holliday her first Grammy as “Best R & B Female Vocal” and a Tony Award in 1982.
The album itself went platinum hit reaching #11 and # 4 on the pop and R & B charts respectively. Foster, together with the shows’ writers, Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen, also won a Grammy for “Best Musical Show Album.”
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/and_i_am_telling_you_i_m_not_going.mp3|titles=And I am telling you i’m not going|artists=Jennifer Holliday]
Lead Vocal: Jennifer Holliday
Produced by David Foster
Lyrics
And I am telling you
I’m not going.
You’re the best man I’ll ever know.
There’s no way I can ever go.
No, no, no, no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m living without you.
I’m not living without you.
I don’t want to be free.
I’m staying, I’m staying,
And you, and you, you’re gonna love me.
Ooh, you’re gonna love me.
And I am telling you
I’m not going,
Even though the rough times are showing.
There’s just no way, there’s no way!
We’re part of the same place,
We’re part of the same time.
We both share the same blood.
We both have the same mind.
And time and time we have so much to share.
No! No, no, no, no, no!
I’m not waking up tomorrow morning
And finding that there’s nobody there.
Darling, there’s no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m living without you.
I’m not living without you.
You see, there’s just no way,
There’s no way!
Tear down the mountains,
Yell, scream and shout.
You can say what you want,
I’m not walking out.
Stop all the rivers,
Push, strike and kill.
I’m not gonna leave you,
There’s no way I will!
And I am telling you
I’m not going.
You’re the best man I’ll ever know.
There’s no way I can ever, ever go.
No, no, no, no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m living without you.
I’m not living without you,
I’m not living without you.
I don’t want to be free.
I’m staying, I’m staying,
And you, and you, and you, you’re gonna love me.
Ooh, you’re gonna love me.
You’re gonna love me!