(You're) Timeless To Me Lyrics – Hairspray

Song Overview

(You’re) Timeless to Me is Hairspray’s soft-shoe love letter to long marriages and sturdy jokes. Written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the 2002 Broadway musical, it returns in the 2007 film with Walken’s Wilbur and Travolta’s Edna trading barbs and vows over a relaxed, old-school groove. The track sits on Hairspray: Soundtrack to the Motion Picture, released July 10, 2007 by New Line Records, and appears in WaterTower’s official “Provided to YouTube” posts.

Review and Highlights

The tune leans back on a cozy shuffle and lets the wordplay work. It’s two lifers teasing each other into tenderness: schmaltz by design, with a wink. In the film, the number doubles as repair - Wilbur and Edna reset trust without saccharine. Shaiman’s melody keeps the phrases singable and conversational; Wittman’s rhymes slide from “stinky old cheese” to “Geritol” without losing affection.

Creation History

Premiered on Broadway in 2002 (sung by Harvey Fierstein and Dick Latessa), the song moved intact to the 2007 movie where Christopher Walken and John Travolta took the duet. The soundtrack landed July 10, 2007 via New Line; WaterTower later handled digital catalog, including the track’s official upload.

Song Meaning and Annotations

Plot

Placed late in the story, Wilbur woos Edna back after a misunderstanding. What could be a quick apology becomes a stand-still scene where time - and rhythm - slows so they can look at each other and say why they still fit.

Song Meaning

It’s a defense of unfashionable love. The world spins, hemlines change, but the couple keeps their own clock. The flip of insults into endearments says it clean: aging is not a threat here, it’s the joke that keeps paying off.

Annotations

“Styles keep a-changin’, the world’s rearrangin’”

Right away the lyric sets a light, comic tone. The g-dropping and internal rhyme signal vaudeville warmth.

“Edna”

Direct address centers the partner who’s been hiding from the world; he speaks to the doubt, not around it.

“Hemlines are shorter, a beer costs a quarter”

Time flies, prices change. The couple’s constant is each other.

“You’re like a stinky old cheese… You’re like a fatal disease”

He flips negatives into devotion - punchlines that land as praise. It’s the show’s most Jewish-comedy moment, and it charms because Edna laughs too.

“A twist or a waltz, it’s all the same schmaltz”

Dance trends come and go; the pair will keep dancing anyway.

“Fads keep a-fading, Castro’s invading… Hairdos are higher”

Edna names change with a sigh, then lets Wilbur’s faith patch her confidence.

“So pour me a teeny weenie triple… we ain’t dead yet”

They toast survival with gallows humor - a love language all its own.

“Geritol”

A period wink at age remedies, repurposed as a punchline about facing time together.

“Glenn Miller… Chubby Checker”

Even legends pass; their bond doesn’t.

“You’ll always be du jour, mon amour”

He codas in Franglais - sweet, cheesy, perfect for them.

Style and instrumentation

Shuffle feel, brushed drums, muted brass comments, and a little theater pit shimmer. It’s built for two voices to trade lines and land on unison without strain.

Why it lands

Because it never begs to be “cool.” The number likes what it likes - corny jokes, sturdy rhyme - and that security reads as love.

Key Facts

• Artists: Christopher Walken, John Travolta, with Motion Picture Cast of Hairspray
• Composer: Marc Shaiman
• Lyricist: Scott Wittman
• Album: Hairspray: Soundtrack to the Motion Picture
• Release date: July 10, 2007
• Label: New Line Records; digital catalog via WaterTower Music
• YouTube official audio ID: KrHNog4FLq0

Questions and Answers

Who wrote “(You’re) Timeless to Me”?

Music by Marc Shaiman; lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman.

Who performs it in the 2007 film?

Christopher Walken (Wilbur) and John Travolta (Edna).

Where can I hear the official version?

On the 2007 soundtrack and on WaterTower’s official “Provided to YouTube” post.

Is it also in the stage show?

Yes - it’s Act II’s second number in the Broadway musical.

How did the soundtrack perform commercially?

It spent nine straight weeks in the Billboard 200 top 10, went RIAA Platinum, and earned a 2008 Grammy nomination.

Awards and Chart Positions

Soundtrack milestones: After its July 10 release, the album climbed to no. 2 on the Billboard 200, spent nine weeks in the top 10, was certified Platinum, and received a 2008 Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack.

How to Sing (You’re) Timeless to Me

Vocal blend: Treat it like a duet between stand-up comics. Lines should feel tossed off, then land in clean unison at tag lines.

Range & color: Baritone-tenor comfort for Wilbur; low mezzo for Edna with chest-led warmth. Keep vibrato narrow so the banter stays crisp.

Time feel: Gentle shuffle. Let the backbeat breathe - jokes need space.

Acting beats: Start with doubt, move to delight. The insults are love notes; sell the grin, not the sting.

Additional Info

The film’s official playlists keep the track in circulation online, while collector’s editions and streaming listings confirm credits and placement alongside the rest of the score.