Somebody Has to Take the Blame is the ninth song of the musical, Freaky Friday, which it is performed by Katherine (in Ellie's body), Ellie (in Katherine's body), Dr. Ehrin, Señor O'Brien and Mrs. Luckenbill.
Lyrics
Ellie: (in Katherine's body)
I infantilize my daughter
I'm controlling, I'm a pill
I micro-micromanage
I'm all up in her grill
Katherine: (in Ellie's body, spoken)
It's called parenting
Ellie: (in Katherine's body)
I demand that she be prefect
All that pressure, all that fuss
I'm a parenting disaster
Don't you think so?
Let's discuss
Katherine: (in Ellie's body)
Forgive my darling mother and forget each thing she said
Put the blame where it belongs now
Squarely on my head
I'm reckless and I'm feckless
I go and get tattoos
I think it's called a tramp stamp
I can show you if you choose
Ellie: (in Katherine's body) No no no no! At least she doesn't smoke like me! I smoke!
Katherine: (in Ellie's body)
My faults are much too numerous to name
Ellie: (in Katherine's body)
It's awful to admit, but that's the game
Katherine: (in Ellie's body)
Somebody has got to take
Ellie: (in Katherine's body)
Somebody has got to take
Both:
Somebody has got to take the blame!
Dr. Ehrin:
Aha!
It's a single-parent family
So you both are filled with rage
Señor O'Brien:
Her development arrested at the pre-preverbal stage
Dr. Ehrin:
Or it could be ADHD, ADD or STDs
I suggest that you try Ritalin and yoga and soy cheese
Ellie: (in Katherine's body, spoken) Soy cheese?
Katherine: (in Ellie's body, spoken) This is asinine.
Señor O'Brien:
She's functionally unpunctual, she's robbed us and she's rude
Ellie: (in Katherine's body)
Excuse me, es mi hija, so perder la attitude
Ms. Perkins:
She's intelligent
Ellie: (in Katherine's body, spoken) Ya hear that?
Dr. Ehrin:
But unfocused, barely there
Señor O'Brien:
I think she smokes the ganja
Ellie: (in Katherine's body, spoken) She does not!
Katherine: (in Ellie's body, spoken) I don't?
Ellie: (in Katherine's body)
I swear!
Dr. Ehrin:
She's wasting her potential just the same
Ellie: (in Katherine's body)
It's not her fault if she's too bright to tame
All:
But somebody has got to take
Somebody has got to take
Somebody has got to take the—
Mrs. Luckenbill:
Enough with all the blaming and the shaming!
No, you hush
The armchair, analyzing and the psychobabble mush
I'm a teacher, I should reach her
So the failure here is mine
She's bright and she's articulate
Her heart and mind are fine
In all this finger-pointing, this crusade
No one thought to check her file
To see she struggled for a while
Since the seventh grade
Katherine: (in Ellie's body, spoken) The year Dad passed away.
Ellie: (in Katherine's body, spoken) Just say died
He died
Katherine: (in Ellie's body, spoken)
Oh, Honey, I've been thoughtless and for years
I never thought your anger stood for tears
It's clear to me I have to take the—
Ellie: (in Katherine's body)
Listen, do we have to do this now?
I'd rather not discuss it, anyhow
It's high school counselor BS all the same
'Cause nobody has got to take the blame
Katherine: (in Ellie's body, spoken)
Let's wrap this up
Dr. Aaron, I appreciate all the feedback
From now on, I'm going to be very good
Señor O'Brien:
But somebody has got to take the blame!
Original: Ellen Andrews • Annabel Andrews • Bill Andrews • Mrs. Schmauss • Harold Jennings • Virginia • Mr. Dilk • Mr. Joffert • Coach Betsy • Boris Harris • Mrs. Murphy • Ben Andrews • Miss McGuirk • Mrs. Lucille Gibbons • Mrs. Benson • Hilary Miller • Bambi • Jo-Jo • Mr. Mills • Mr. Jackman
1995 remake: Dana Barb • Frieda Debny • Mr. Sweet • Principal Handel • Stan Horner • Leanne Futterman • Herbie • Cary • Bill Davidson • Mrs. Tarr 2003 remake:Tess Coleman • Anna Coleman • Ryan Volvo • Alan Coleman • Jake • Elton Bates • Maddie • Harry Coleman • Peg • Pei-Pei • Pei-Pei's mom • Evan • Dottie Robertson • Stacey Hinkhouse • Ethan • Scott 2018 remake: Ellie Blake • Katherine Blake • Adam • Fletcher Blake • Mike Harper • Torrey Min • Savannah • Monica Yang • Karl Carlson • Kitty • Danielle • Luis • Ms. Meyers • Mr. Blumen • Principal Ehrin • Mrs. Luckenbill • Senor O'Brien • Officer Kowalksi • Mrs. Time • Boris • Presto
