“Why is America so fat?”/“Because these colors don’t run.”

A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

Recent entries:
•“Welcome to growing older. Where all the foods and drinks you’ve loved for years suddenly seem determined to destroy you” (4/17)
•“Date someone who drinks with you instead of complaining that you drink” (4/17)
•“Definition of stupid: Knowing the truth, seeing evidence of the truth, but still believing the lie” (4/17)
•“Definition of stupid: Knowing the truth, seeing the evidence of the truth, but still believing the lie” (4/17)
•Entry in progress—BP16 (4/17)
More new entries...

Follow @barrypopik

Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.

Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.

Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.

Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.

This site is edited by Barry Popik. These are the Cookies and Privacy Policies.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry from October 08, 2017

“Why is America so fat?”/“Because these colors don’t run.”

“These colors don’t run” is frequently said about the American flag, meaning that America doesn’t back away from a fight. A joke is:

Q: Why is America so fat?
A: Because these colors don’t run.”

“‘Red, White, and Blue: these colors don’t run!’ So THAT’S why everyone at the mall is so fat!” was posted on Twitter on May 11, 2011. “These colors don’t run. Seriously. That’s why our country is so fat” was posted on Twitter on July 3, 2011.

Quora
What does “these colors don’t run” mean?
Joe Devney, Professional writer and editor, Master’s in Linguistics.
Answered Jul 10, 2016
If the sentence accompanies a picture of the American flag, it is a play on words. Colors and run both have more than one meaning, and the flag is both a piece of cloth and a symbol for something larger. That is the way I usually see this particular string of words used.
(...)
In the metaphorical sense with the picture of the flag, “colors” is another word for the flag. Then the flag itself stands in for America, or specifically the American military. In this context, “run” is meant more literally.The sentence is saying that Americans will not run away from a fight.

Twitter
Vincent James Wylie‏
@James_Wylie
“Red, White, and Blue: these colors don’t run!” So THAT’S why everyone at the mall is so fat!
11:50 AM - 11 May 2011

Twitter
Steve Svehla‏
@CoatCzech
These colors don’t run. Seriously. That’s why our country is so fat.
2:11 PM - 3 Jul 2011

Twitter
Nathan Kyle‏
@Nathissistic
“Why is America so fat?” - rest of the world
“These colors don’t run.” - U.S.A.
*U.S.A. chants in the background*
3:36 PM - 20 Feb 2014

Twitter
Jon Barr‏
@JonBarrTweets
Don’t diss America. These colors don’t run. That’s why they’re so fat just like the rest of America.
9:26 PM - 29 Mar 2015

Twitter
Creamy Smooth‏
@TheCreamySmooth
Americans are so fat, even our flag’s colors don’t run.
8:40 AM - 14 Aug 2015

Reddit—Jokes
Why are Americans so fat?
submitted July 8, 2017 by OliverWotei
Because these colors don’t run!

Reddit—Jokes
Why is America so fat?
submitted October 8, 2017 by Saetric
Because THESE COLORS DON’T RUN

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Exercise/Running/Health Clubs • Sunday, October 08, 2017 • Permalink

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.