When the Going Gets Tough

"When the Going Gets Tough" is a song written by Domani Harris, Darwin "Lil' C" Quinn, and Clifford Harris, Jr., better known as rapper T.I.. It appears in the SpongeBob SquarePants musical. At this point in the musical, Plankton and Karen attempt to convince the town of Bikini Bottom they have to leave so they can move to a new town and start over, but Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob, and Sandy are suspicious of their intentions.

Lyrics[]

[PLANKTON, spoken]
Give me some music, Karen!

[Karen begins to beatbox.]

[PLANKTON]
This task force is for losers
I've got the perfect plan
Right now the getting's good
So let's get out while we can

Look, lava's pretty hot
Let's give in to our fear
Disaster's on its way
That means we can't spend no more time in here

You all know who I am
Evil genius, giant brain
You can't stop a volcano
I mean are you all insane?
The ones who stay will all be vaporized without a doubt

[PLANKTON & KAREN]
Before that sucker blows
We gotta get the fish out
Fish out, fish out, fish out

[PLANKTON & MEN]
Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[KAREN & WOMEN]

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[PLANKTON, KAREN & COMPANY]
Let's be gone!

[SPONGEBOB]
Hold on, Plankton
I am simply shocked
Bikini Bottom is our home
I can't believe you talk about
Just walking out, let's figure out
A way to stay, today, tomorrow
I feel sorrow, I feel fear
But I'm not leaving here
Who's with me?

[PLANKTON]
The simple sponge is talking
Fascinating, do go on
The fry cook has a plan
Good luck with that 'cause I'll be gone
You don't just wait around
While you're under attack
No, you...

[KAREN]
Run like crazy

[PLANKTON]
Out the back

[PLANKTON & KAREN]
You got one day left, go home and pack!

[PLANKTON & MEN]
Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[KAREN & WOMEN]

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[PLANKTON, KAREN & COMPANY]
Let's be gone!

[KRABS, spoken]
Hold on! This is another one of your schemes! You've got something up your sleeve

[PLANKTON, spoken]
I'm a one-celled organism. I don't even have sleeves!

[KAREN & COMPANY, spoken]
Ohhhh!

[PLANKTON & MEN]
Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[KAREN & WOMEN]

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[MAYOR]

We just may survive this chaos

[ALL]
Let's begone, let's begone, so leggo!

[PLANKTON]
This task force is for losers
I've got the perfect plan
Right now the getting's good
So let's get out while we can

Look, lava's pretty hot
Let's give in to our fear
Disaster's on its way
That means we can't spend no more time in here

You all know who I am
Evil genius, giant brain
You can't stop a volcano
I mean are you all insane?
The ones who stay will all be vaporized without a doubt

Before that sucker blows
We gotta get the fish out

[KAREN]
Fish out, fish out, fish out

[PLANKTON]
So let’s go
And begone
So let’s go
And begone
Oh leggo
And begone
Oh leggo
And we gone

[PLANKTON]
'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[RAPPERS]

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[PLANKTON, KAREN & COMPANY]
Let's be gone!

[SPONGEBOB]
Hold on, Plankton
I am simply shocked
Bikini Bottom is our home
I can't believe you talk about
Just walking out, let's figure out
A way to stay, today, tomorrow
I feel sorrow, I feel fear
But I'm not leaving here
Who's with me?

[PLANKTON]
The simple sponge is talking
Fascinating, do go on
The fry cook has a plan
Good luck with that 'cause I'll be gone
You don't just wait around
While you're under attack
No, you...

[PLANKTON & COMPANY]
Run like crazy
Out the back
You got one day left, go home and pack!

[PLANKTON]
'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[RAPPERS]

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[PLANKTON, KAREN & COMPANY]
Let's be gone!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
Of course, mass evacuation is no simple feat. We'll need to leave together in a vessel that can trap us all… I mean... fit us all! A Giant Escape Pod! This Pod will take us far away from here, to build a new home. We'll call it…

[PEARL, spoken]
Bikiniland!

[LARRY, spoken]
Bikini Wax!

[BIKINI BOTTOMITE, spoken]
Brazilian--!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
Chumville! Cause we’re all chums!

[KRABS, spoken]
Hold on, tiny dancer! I wasn't hatched yesterday. This sounds like another one of your schemes.

[PLANKTON, spoken]
At a time like this? How could you think such a thing?

[KRABS, spoken]
You've got something up your sleeve.

[PLANKTON, spoken]
I'm a one-celled organism. I don't even have sleeves!

[KAREN & COMPANY, spoken]
Ohhhh!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
Watch this, Karen!
Break it down, now!

(speed-rapping)
Coming up as one of many
Mom and Dad had plenty more of me
And 20/20 vision? Never had it!
Had to be a devastating, conversating, luminous communicator
Hoping later every hater of this tiny, little, nerdy me would pay
You've never heard of me? Okay-
A giant!
I don't give it up, I live it up!
Floating in the saline
Running from the balene
A celebrated single cell of cilliated, cerebellic genius!
Ha, Ha, Ha.

[PLANKTON & MEN]
Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[KAREN & WOMEN]

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[MAYOR]

We just may survive this chaos

[ALL]
Let's begone, let's begone, so leggo!

[PLANKTON]
This task force is for losers
I've got the perfect plan
Right now the getting's good
So let's get out while we can

Look, lava's pretty hot
Let's give in to our fear
Disaster's on its way
That means we can't spend no more time in here

You all know who I am
Evil genius, giant brain
You can't stop a volcano
I mean are you all insane?
The ones who stay will all be vaporized without a doubt

Before that sucker blows
We gotta get the fish out
Fish out, fish out, fish out

So let’s go
And begone
So let’s go
And begone
Oh leggo
And begone
Oh leggo
And we gone

[PLANKTON]
'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[RAPPERS]

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[PLANKTON, KAREN & COMPANY]
Let's be gone!

[SPONGEBOB]
Hold on, Plankton
I am simply shocked
Bikini Bottom is our home
I can't believe you talk about
Just walking out, let's figure out
A way to stay, today, tomorrow
I feel sorrow, I feel fear
But I'm not leaving here
Who's with me?

[PLANKTON]
The simple sponge is talking
Fascinating, do go on
The fry cook has a plan
Good luck with that 'cause I'll be gone
You don't just wait around
While you're under attack
No, you...

[PLANKTON & COMPANY]
Run like crazy
Out the back
You got one day left, go home and pack!

[PLANKTON]
'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[RAPPERS]

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[PLANKTON, KAREN & COMPANY]
Let's be gone!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
Of course, mass evacuation is no simple feat. We'll need to leave together in a vessel that can trap us all… I mean... fit us all! A Giant Escape Pod! This Pod will take us far away from here, to build a new home. We'll call it… Chumville!

[KRABS, spoken]
Hold on, tiny dancer! I wasn't hatched yesterday. This sounds like another one of your schemes.

[PLANKTON, spoken]
At a time like this? How could you think such a thing?

[KRABS, spoken]
You've got something up your sleeve.

[PLANKTON, spoken]
I'm a one-celled organism. I don't even have sleeves!

[KAREN & COMPANY, spoken]
Ohhhh!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
Watch this, Karen!
Break it down, now!

(speed-rapping)
Coming up as one of many
Mom and Dad had plenty more of me
And 20/20 vision? Never had it!
Had to be a devastating, conversating, luminous communicator
Hoping later every hater of this tiny, little, nerdy me would pay
You've never heard of me? Okay-
A giant!
I don't give it up, I live it up!
Floating in the saline
Running from the balene
A celebrated single cell of cilliated, cerebellic genius!
Ha, Ha, Ha.

[PLANKTON & MEN]
'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[KAREN & WOMEN]

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[MAYOR]

We just may survive this chaos

[ALL]
Let's begone, let's begone, so leggo!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
I believe I may have a solution. Beat, please.

[Karen begins to beatbox.]

[PLANKTON]
So let's go, and be gone
Let's go, and be gone
Let's go and be gone
Let's go, and we gone!

'Cause when the going gets tough
That means it's time to get lost
'Cause when the going gets tough
That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and we gone, let's be gone

This task force is for losers
I think I've got a plan
Right now the getting's good
So let's get out while we can

Look, lava's pretty hot
Let's give in to our fear
Disaster's on its way
That means we can't spend no more time in here

You all know who I am
Evil genius, giant brain
You can't stop a volcano
I mean are you all insane?
The ones who stay will all be vaporized without a doubt

[PLANKTON & KAREN]
Before that sucker blows
We gotta get the fish out
Fish out, fish out, fish out

[PLANKTON & MEN]
Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[KAREN & WOMEN]

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[PLANKTON, KAREN & COMPANY]
Let's be gone!

[SPONGEBOB]
Hold on, Plankton
I am simply shocked
Bikini Bottom is our home
I can't believe you talk about
Just walking out, let's figure out
A way to stay, today, tomorrow
I feel sorrow, I feel fear
But I'm not leaving here
Who's with me?

[PLANKTON]
The simple sponge is talking
Fascinating, do go on
The fry cook has a plan
Good luck with that 'cause I'll be gone
You don't just wait around
While you're under attack
No, you...

[KAREN]
Run like crazy

[PLANKTON]
Out the back

[PLANKTON & KAREN]
You got one day left, better go home and pack!

[PLANKTON & MEN]
Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[KAREN & WOMEN]

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[PLANKTON, KAREN & COMPANY]
Let's be gone!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
Of course, mass evacuation is no simple feat. We'll need a vessel that can fit us all… A Giant Escape Pod! This Pod will take us far away from here, to build a new home. We'll call it…

[PEARL, spoken]
Bikiniland!

[LARRY, spoken]
Bikini Wax!

[BIKINI BOTTOMITE, spoken]
Brazilian--!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
No! Chumville! ...Because we’re all chums!

[KRABS, spoken]
Hold on! I wasn't hatched yesterday. This is another one of your schemes!

[PLANKTON, spoken]
At a time like this, how could you think such a thing?

[KRABS, spoken]
You've got somethin' up your sleeve...

[PLANKTON, spoken]
I don't even have sleeves!

[KAREN & COMPANY, spoken]
Ohhhh!

[PLANKTON & MEN]
Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

'Cause when the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost
So leggo, and begone

[KAREN & WOMEN]

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And begone

Oh leggo

And we gone

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

When the going gets tough

That means it's time to get lost

[ALL]
Let's begone, let's begone, so leggo!

Trivia[]

In the Broadway production, a new verse was added in which Plankton performs a rapid-fire rap.

Music (V • T • E)

Episode songs:	SpongeBob SquarePants Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight • Ripped Pants • The Krusty Krab Pizza • Jellyfish Jam • F.U.N. Song • Doing the Sponge • Blow the Man Down • I Wanna Go Home • Loop de Loop • Bossy Boots Song • That's What Friends Do • The Very First Christmas • This Grill Is Not a Home • Sweet Victory • Hey All You People • Give It All You've Got • Hey, Mean Mr. Bossman • Sweater Song • Electric Zoo • Underwater Sun • When Worlds Collide • You're Old • Camp Fire Song Song • I Wish I Could Fly • He's Flying • All You Need Is Friends to Fly • Gary's Song • Where's Gary? • The Feeling of Greed • So Long, Bikini Bottom • Birthday Girl • Down the Well • The Best Day Ever • I Can't Keep My Eyes Off of You • If I Could Talk to Money • Twinkle, Twinkle, Patrick Star • Bubble Song • Fueling the Bus • Mr. Krabs' song • Sandy's song • Plankton's song • Squidward's song • Back in Encino • Goodbye, Atlantis • Together • Dead Eye • Idiot Friends • I Love Krabby Patties • Frying Up Patties • The Suction Cup Symphony • Bee Line for the Tree Line • Oh, My Karen • A Day Like This • Krabby Patty Jingle • Rubber Hose Rag • The Scurvy Song • Oh, Krusty Krab • Beautiful Dreamer • Jellyfishing • Give Jellyfish Fields a Chance • Rodeo Song • Gratitude • Squidward's Tiki Land • Musical Doodle • Dear Friend • Neat Clarinet • The Road Song • Ghouls O The Briny Deep • Santa Has His Eye on Me • Hot Fruitcake • Don't Be a Jerk • High Tide Time • Never Give Up • Two Thumbs Down • Who Am I? • I Hate People • Ahhhh • My Leg Is In Love! • He's Our Mermaid Man • Filthy Muck • Flippin' Out • Gloves Song • Feeding Frenzy • Pets Are People Too • Goober Rag • Everything Juice • Old Man Jenkins Had a Farm • Sammy Suckerfish Song • Sweet Neptune, Help Me! I'm Pinned Under Weights In My Home Gym! Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years Tag, You're It • Square Dance Song • Eye of the Hotdog The Patrick Star Show The Patrick Song • Let's Be Dumb • Sad Song • Dueling Jingles • The Granny Tentacles Show Theme Song • The Neighborhood Song • World of Friendship • Baby Stars Theme Song • Jailhouse Workout

Movie songs:	The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Goofy Goober Theme Song • Now That We're Men • Goofy Goober Rock • Ocean Man • SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy • Just a Kid • The Best Day Ever The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Teamwork • Squeeze Me • Rap Battle • Patrick Star • Sandy Squirrel The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run It's Always Summer in Bikini Bottom • On the Road Again • Dream Weaver • How We Do • Livin' La Vida Loca • Gary's Song • My Heart Will Go On • Secret to the Formula • Take On Me • Agua • Krabby Step • Snail: I'm Avail Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie My Name is Sandy Cheeks • She Makes Waves • The Amazing Flying Cheeks • Squidward Breathes • This Squirrel's Done Good • Sandy Cheeks Theme

Album-exclusive songs:	The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie - Music from the Movie and More... Prince Paul's Bubble Party • Bikini Bottom • They'll Soon Discover • Under My Rock • You Better Swim • Employee of the Month The Best Day Ever Barnacles! • My Tighty Whiteys • Ridin' the Hook • Superior • Doin' the Krabby Patty • You Will Obey! • Who Wants to Race Me? • Fishin' for Money • Bikini Bottom - Rock Bottom It's a SpongeBob Christmas! Christmas Eve Jitters • Santa Won't Let You Down • Snowflakes • Pretty Ribbons and Bows • Wet, Wet Christmas • Ho Ho Hoedown • Christmas Is Mine Music from The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Thank Gosh It's Monday

Musical songs:	Bikini Bottom Day • BFF • No Control • When the Going Gets Tough • (Just a) Simple Sponge • Daddy Knows Best • Hero is My Middle Name • Super Sea Star Savior • Tomorrow Is • Poor Pirates • Bikini Bottom Boogie • Chop to the Top • (I Guess I) Miss You • I'm Not a Loser

Miscellaneous songs:	Theme songs SpongeBob SquarePants Theme Song • Kamp Koral Theme Song • The Patrick Star Show Theme Song Short songs List of short songs Other Beats by Bob • Everybody Loves the Sponge • Frozen Krabby Patty Song • Just 10 Minutes • Plankton and Krabs • Plankton & Karen Love Song • The Positivity Song • SpongeBob's Birthday • The SpongeBob History Song • Squidward's Back • We Makin' Krabby Patties

When the Going Gets Tough

Lyrics[]

Trivia[]

Video[]