Chita Rivera is an iconic actress, dancer, and singer best known for her groundbreaking work on Broadway. With a career spanning over 70 years, she is a legend in the musical theatre world, famous for her dance performances and stage presence.
Initially, she made her Broadway debut at the age of 16 in the chorus of “Call Me Madam” (1948), but it was her role as Anita in the original production of “West Side Story” (1957) that brought her widespread acclaim.
However, Chita’s performances in iconic Broadway productions have made her one of the most recognized dancers and actresses in the history of musical theatre.
About the Song
Cell Block Tango is a dramatic and energetic song from Chicago. In it, female inmates of a Chicago jailhouse share their stories of crime and betrayal.
With its bold, sassy lyrics and unforgettable choreography, it’s one of the most iconic moments in musical theatre.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Released | 1975 |
| Album | Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville |
| Writers | Fred Ebb & John Kander |
| Producers | Phil Ramone, Martin Richards, Joseph Harris, Ira Bernstein & Didier C. Deutsch |
Cell Block Tango Lyrics by Chita Rivera
EMCEE, spoken
And now, the six merry murderesses of the Cook County Jail
In their rendition of ‘The Cell Block Tango’!
GIRLS
Pop! Six! Squish! Uh uh! Cicero, Lipschitz!
Pop! Six! Squish! Uh uh! Cicero, Lipschitz!
Pop! Six! Squish! Uh uh! Cicero, Lipschitz!
Pop! Six! Squish! Uh uh! Cicero, Lipschitz!
He had it comin’, he had it comin’
He only had himself to blame!
If you’d have been there, if you’d have seen it
I betcha you would have done the same!
Pop! Six! Squish! Uh uh! Cicero, Lipschitz!
LIZ, spoken
You know how people have these little habits that get you down? Like Bernie! Bernie liked to chew gum–no, not chew. Pop!
Well, I come home this one day, and there’s Bernie, layin’ on the couch, chewin’–no, not chewin’, poppin’!
So, I said to him, I said “Bernie, you pop that gum one more time…”
And he did. So I took the shotgun off the wall and I fired two warning shots
Into his head!
LIZ & GIRLS
He had it comin’, he had it comin’
He only had himself to blame!
ANNIE, spoken
I met Ezekiel Young from Salt Lake City about two years ago and he told me he was single and we uh, hit it off right away. So, we started livin’ together. He’d go to work, he’d come home, I’d mix him a drink, we’d have dinner
Then I found out, single my ass! Not only was he married, well, he had six wives; one of them Mormons, you know?
So that night, when he came home, I mixed him his drink as usual
You know, some guys just can’t hold their arsenic!
ANNIE & GIRLS
He had it comin’, he had it comin’ (Pop! Six! Squish! Uh-huh! Cicero, Lipschitz!)
He took a flower in its prime! (Pop! Six! Squish! Uh-huh! Cicero, Lipschitz!)
And then he used it (Pop!); and he abused it (Six!)
It was a murder, but not a crime! (Squish! Uh uh! Cicero, Lipschitz!)
JUNE, spoken
Now, I’m standin’ in the kitchen, carvin’ up the chicken for dinner, and in storms my husband Wilbur in a jealous rage
“You been screwin’ the milkman!” he said, and he kept sayin’, “You been screwin’ the milkman!”
Then he ran into my knife.
He ran into my knife ten times
JUNE & GIRLS
If you’d have been there, if you’d have seen it
I betcha you would have done the same!
HUNYAK, spoken
Mit keresek én itt? Azt mondják, a híres lakóm lefogta a férjem, én meg lecsaptam a fejét. De nem igaz. Én ártatlan vagyok. Nem tudom, miért mondja Uncle Sam, hogy én tettem. Próbáltam a rendőrségen megmagyarázni, de nem értették meg
JUNE, spoken
But did you do it?
HUNYAK, spoken
Uh uh, not guilty!
VELMA, spoken, GIRLS
(He had it comin’)
My sister Veronica and I did this double act (He had it comin’)
And my husband Charlie traveled around with us. For the last number in our act, we did these twenty acrobatic tricks in a row (He only had himself to blame)
One, two, three, four, five, splits, spread eagles, flip flops, backflips, one right after the other! (If you’d have been there)
Well, this one night we were in Cicero, the three of us (If you’d have seen it)
And we were in this hotel room boozin’ and havin’ a few laughs. And we run out of ice, so I went out to get some (I betcha you would have done the same)
I come back, open the door…
There’s Veronica and Charlie doin’ number seventeen… the spread eagle! (He had it comin’, he had it—)
Well, I was in such a state of shock, I completely blacked out. I can’t remember a thing. It wasn’t until later, when I was washin’ the blood off my hands, I even knew they were dead!
VELMA, GIRLS
They had it comin’ (They had it comin’!), they had it comin’! (They had it comin’!)
They had it comin’ all along! (They took a flower in its prime)
I didn’t do it (And then they used it), but if I’d done it (And they abused it)
How could you tell me that I was wrong? (It was a murder, but not a crime)
MONA, spoken, GIRLS
(He had it comin’)
I loved Alvin Lipschitz
He was a real artistic guy, sensitive, a painter (He had it comin’)
But he was always trying to “find himself”. He’d go out every night looking for himself (He only had himself to blame)
And on the way, he found Ruth, Gladys, Rosemary and Irving (If you’d have been there)
I guess you can say we broke up because of artistic differences (If you’d have seen it)
He saw himself as alive
And I saw him dead
GIRLS
The dirty bum, bum, bum, bum, bum!
The dirty bum, bum, bum, bum, bum!
They had it comin’ (They had it comin’), they had it comin’ (They had it comin’)
They had it comin’ all along! (They had it comin’ all along)
‘Cause if they used us (‘Cause if they used us), and they abused us (And they abused us)
How could they tell us that we were wrong?
He had it comin’ (He had it comin’), he had it comin’ (He had it comin’)
He only had himself to blame! (He only had himself to blame)
If you’d have been there (If you’d have been there), if you’d have seen it (If you’d have seen it)
I betcha you would have done the same
LIZ, spoken
You pop that gum one more time–
ANNIE, spoken
Single my ass–
JUNE, spoken
Ten times–
HUNYAK, spoken
Miért csukott Uncle Sam börtönbe!
VELMA, spoken
Number seventeen, the spread eagle!
MONA, spoken
Artistic differences—
GIRLS
I betcha you would have done the same!
Similar Songs Like Cell Block Tango
If you are a musical fan or genuinely interested in pop culture, here’s a list of recommendations that you might love:
- All That Jazz: It is a seductive anthem, showcasing Velma Kelly’s flashy, confident persona. Chita Rivera’s performance of this iconic number has become synonymous with the character’s energy and charm.
- Roxie: This is a lively and cheeky song from Chicago, where the character of Roxie Hart imagines her rise to fame. Chita Rivera’s powerful stage presence makes this playful number a fan favorite.
Similar Artists Like Chita Rivera
Here’s a list of similar pop singers and artists like Chita Rivera that you might like to try:
- Liza Minnelli
Genres: Musical Theatre, Pop, Jazz
Top Albums: Liza with a Z (1972), The Singer (1973), Cabaret: The Original Soundtrack Recording (1972) - Bernadette Peters
Genres: Musical Theatre, Broadway, Pop
Top Albums: Bernadette Peters (1980), Sondheim, Etc. – Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall (1998), Gypsy: A Musical Fable (2003) - Audra McDonald
Genres: Musical Theatre, Classical Crossover, Jazz
Top Albums: How Glory Goes (1998), Build a Bridge (2013), Sing Happy (2017)
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Cell Block Tango Appear in the Story of Chicago?
The song takes place shortly after Roxie Hart is sent to the women’s block in Cook County Jail, where several female inmates recount the stories behind the murders they committed.
What is the Main Theme or Message of the Song?
The song is a darkly comedic and satirical piece in which six women, each accused of murdering their husbands or lovers, justify their actions by claiming their victims had it coming.
Is Cell Block Tango Based on Real Events?
Chicago is inspired by actual crimes reported by Maurine Dallas Watkins in the 1920s. The song and the musical as a whole satirize the media’s interest in female criminals during the Jazz Age.
