"A Lotta Locomotion" is a song performed in various productions of Starlight Express between 1984 and 2013.
It introduces the coaches to the audience.
Context
Control sends Rusty to fetch the coaches, ready for the start of the race. The pretty new observation car, Pearl, has tentatively agreed to race with him, but the other coaches talk her out of partnering with a loser. Pearl needs more from a partner, and 'Locomotion both introduces the individual coaches and talks about what they're looking for.
History
Virtually every production has tweaked this number in one way or another, from cutting Pearl altogether, to giving Pearl far more solo time than any of the other coaches. Each alteration has served to shorten the original number.
The original 1984 London production gave each coach equal time in the spotlight, with a verse each to introduce themselves.
The Broadway Production removed Pearl from this number, having only the other three Coaches describe themselves with a verse each.
The subsequent 1989 US Tour reincorporated Pearl, but rather than restore her solo verse, she shared a verse with Dinah, with Buffy keeping the final verse, as she did on Broadway.
When the show opened in Las Vegas in 1993, the number was rewritten, giving the coaches a snappy introduction to replace "Rusty Can't Be Serious", and a shorter, two-verse version of 'Locomotion. The first verse had one line for each coach to introduce themselves, and the second verse was Pearl's full verse, not previously used in an American production.
Coaches from the 1990 cast of the Japan Tour
the 1987 Japan/Australia Tour production took less inspiration from Broadway for this number, and introduced the format also used in Germany, with Buffy and Dinah, both "food cars", sharing a verse and Ashley and Pearl having full introductions.
When Starlight Express was revised in London in 1992 the song was shortened. Buffy's verses were mixed with Ashley's, and Ashley's extra interruption at the end was cut. This version established a hierarchy, with Pearl and Dinah as principal characters and Ashley and Buffy as secondaries.
'A Whole Lotta Locomotion' and 'I Got Me'
The 2003 US Tour replaced "A Lotta Locomotion" with a new song, "Whole Lotta Locomotion". This song gives only brief introductions to the coaches then tells of the coaches's wanting to 'couple up' with an engine. In 2013, "Ne Lok mit Locomotion" was cut from the German production in Bochum and changed to "Nie Genug", the German translation of "A Whole Lotta Locomotion".
"A Whole Lotta Locomotion" was in turn replaced by a newer song, "I Got Me", beginning with the 2017 workshop.
Lyrics
1984 London Version
Buffy, with Ashley, Pearl and Dinah behind, London 1984
| Pearl: | A Lotta locomotion, |
| Coaches: | That's what we need, |
| From a locomotive who can take the lead, | |
| From the Eastern Ocean to the Western Sea, | |
| locomotion's gonna carry me. | |
| A Lotta locomotion, | |
| that's what we need, | |
| If we are ever gonna get up speed. | |
| A lotta locomotion and the right approach | |
| for there are lots of different kinds of coach. | |
| Ashley: | Like me I'm Ashley, I'm the smoking car. |
| I've tried to kick the habit but my insides used to tar, | |
| I know if I don't give up I might choke or have a stroke. | |
| That scares me, and when I'm scared, Boy I need a smoke. | |
| Buffy: | Buffy at your service, ever open wide. |
| My microwave is cooking to warm you from inside. | |
| A lotta locomotion will do the trick. | |
| Come and bite my burgers, I'm hot and cheap and quick. | |
| Dinah: | My name is Dinah, I'm the dining car. |
| I'll cook for you and listen while you lean upon my bar. | |
| I'll serve you with your dinner while the train goes loop-de-loop. | |
| Gee I'm sorry gentlemen, I hope you wanted soup. | |
| Coaches: | A lotta locomotion, |
| that's what we need, | |
| If we are ever gonna get up speed. | |
| From the Eastern Ocean to the Western Sea | |
| locomotion's gonna carry me. | |
| Pearl: | My name's Pearl, I'm a brand new girl, |
| my springs still bounce, my fans still whirl. | |
| Ain't gonna smoke, ain't gonna drink. | |
| Coaches: | What are you gonna do? |
| Pearl: | What do you think? |
| Coaches: | A Lotta locomotion, |
| underneath the sun, | |
| Gonna try them all until she finds the one, | |
| from the Eastern Ocean to the Coast out West... | |
| Pearl: | Gonna test them all until I find the best, |
| Coaches: | A Lotta locomotion, |
| that's what we need, | |
| No one can stop us when we take the lead. | |
| From the Eastern Ocean to the Western Sea... | |
| Don't stop the pistons stroking, don't stop the firemen stoking. | |
| Ashley: | Don't make me give up smoking, |
| Coaches: | Give up smoking? |
| Ashley: | You gotta be joking, |
| Coaches: | Locomotion's gonna carry me. |
1987 Broadway Concept Album Version
| Josie Aiello | A lotta locomotion, | ||
| [Chorus 1] | That's what I need. | ||
| No one can stop me when we take the lead. | |||
| From the Eastern ocean | |||
| To the Western coast, | |||
| Gotta find the motion that can move me most. | |||
| Travelin' song, and I'm on the move. | |||
| Got the right train for today. | |||
| I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way. | |||
| Got a one way ticket | |||
| To somewhere down the track, | |||
| And I just don't know if I'll be coming back. | |||
| [Chorus 2] | A lotta locomotion, | ||
| That's what I need, | |||
| If we are ever gonna get up speed. | |||
| I got the notion, | |||
| I made up my mind. | |||
| A lotta locomotion's what I'm gonna find. | |||
| I'll decide if we take a ride. | |||
| Take me into town. | |||
| You can pick me up, but I can put you down. | |||
| Look out for the signal. | |||
| That'll let you know | |||
| When you should stop and when you should go. | |||
| A lotta locomotion, | |||
| That's what I need. | |||
| No one can stop me when we take the lead. | |||
| [Chorus 1] | |||
| [Chorus 2] | |||
1987 Broadway Version
In the Broadway production, Pearl left with Rusty to get cleaned up and doesn't return until "Freight", thus missing her role in "A Lotta Locomotion" entirely. Due to this, Buffy took her place with Buffy's lines sung to the melody usually given to Pearl.
| Buffy: | Buffy here, I'll sell you a beer, |
| I'll smile at you like I'm sincere. | |
| Thank you no, I don't drink. | |
| Coaches: | What do you do then? |
| Buffy: | What do you think? |
Dinah, Buffy, and Ashley, without Pearl, Broadway 1987
1987 Japan/Australia Tour
Direct English version of the better known German arrangement.
| Dinah: | Like me, I’m Dinah, I'm the dining car. |
| I'll pamper you with passion, free champagne and caviar. | |
| Buffy: | Buffy here, I'll sell you a beer, I'll smile at you like I'm sincere. |
| Not too much or you may drown. What’d you know? He’s fallen down! | |
| Ashley: | My name is Ashley, I'm the smoking car. |
| I've tried to kick the habit but my insides used to tar | |
| I know if I don't give up I might choke or have a stroke. | |
| That scares me, and when I'm scared, Boy I need a smoke. |
1988 Bochum Version
The Bochum production used a direct translation of the Japan/Australia version, with the two food cars, Buffy and Dinah, sharing a verse.
| Pearl: | Ne Lok mit Locomotion |
| Coaches: | Wünsch ich mir |
| Nen Zug, der uns bewegt, den brauchen wir! | |
| Ganz egal wohin er mit uns fahren will | |
| Locomotion bringt uns schnell ans Ziel | |
| Ne Lok mit Locomotion, | |
| brauchen wir | |
| denn ohne Lok kommen wir nie weg von hier! | |
| Ne Lok mit Locomotion und viel Gefühl, | |
| denn jeder Wagen hat 'nen eignen Stil! | |
| Dinah: | Ich heiße Dinah, ich bin fürs Essen da |
| Ich koche gut und hab' 'nen Platz für dich an meiner Bar. | |
| Buffy: | Buffy - hier bei mir gibt's Bier. Und auch ein Lächeln schenk ich dir. |
| Nicht zuviel, das macht krank. Siehste wohl, schon liegt er lang! | |
| Ashley: | Hi, ich bin Ashley. Bin der Rauchwaggon |
| Ich kann es halt nicht lassen. Nikotin bin ich gewohnt | |
| Ich weiß, das Rauch mir schadet. Dennoch krieg ich nie genug | |
| Wenn ich dran denkt, krieg ich 'nen Schreck. Drum nehm' ich schnell 'nen Zug! | |
| Coaches: | Ne Lok mit Locomotion |
| brauchen wir, | |
| denn ohne Lok kommen wir nie weg von hier | |
| Ganz egal wohin er mit uns fahren will. | |
| Locomotion bringt uns schnell ans Ziel! | |
| Pearl: | Ich heiß Pearl, bin neu im Verkehr. |
| Bin noch sehr schön, bin sehr bequem | |
| Ich rauche nicht und trink' kein Bier! | |
| Coaches: | Was machst du dann? |
| Pearl: | Was glaubt ihr? |
| Coaches: | Ne Lok mit Lokomotion |
| brauchen wir, | |
| denn ohne Lok kommen wir nie weg von hier! | |
| Ganz egal wohin er mit uns fahren will. | |
| Locomotion bringt uns schnell ans Ziel | |
| Coaches: | Ne Lok mit Lokomotion |
| brauchen wir | |
| Drum lasst den Schornstein rauchen, Weil wir das Feuer brauchen | |
| Ashley: | Ich hör nie auf zu rauchen! |
| Coaches: | Lass das rauchen! |
| Ashley: | Bin nicht zu gebrauchen! |
| Coaches: | Locomotion ist, was uns bewegt! |
Slight lyric changes were made to Dinah and Pearl's verses, with Pearl completing her own verse without interjection from the other coaches.
| Dinah: | Ich heiße Dinah, ich bin fürs Essen da |
| Ich koche gut und hör Dir zu, bist Du an meiner Bar! | |
| Buffy: | Buffy - hier bei mir gibt's Bier. Und auch ein Lächeln schenk ich dir. |
| Nicht zuviel, das macht krank. Siehste wohl, schon liegt er lang! | |
| Pearl: | Ich heiß Pearl, bin neu im Verkehr. |
| Bin noch sehr schön, bin sehr bequem | |
| Ich biete Luxus, bin charmant, | |
| als erste Klasse weltbekannt! |
1989 US Tour
Combining Dinah and Pearl for one verse, allowing Buffy to take the final verse as in the Broadway production.
| Dinah: | Like me, I’m Dinah, I'm the dining car. |
| I'll pamper you with passion, free champagne and caviar. | |
| Pearl: | But if you're into luxury, then give my fans a whirl |
| With me, the world's your oyster. That's why they call me Pearl. | |
| Ashley: | My name is Ashley, I'm the smoking car. |
| I've tried to kick the habit but my insides used to tar, | |
| I know if I don't give up I might choke or have a stroke | |
| That scares me, and when I'm scared, Boy I need a smoke. | |
| Coaches: | A lotta locomotion, |
| that's what we need | |
| If we are ever gonna get up speed | |
| From the Eastern Ocean to the Western Sea | |
| locomotion's gonna carry me. | |
| Buffy: | Buffy here, I'll sell you a beer, |
| I'll smile at you like I'm sincere. | |
| Thank you no, I don't drink. | |
| Coaches: | What do you do then? |
| Buffy: | What do you think? |
1992 Revised London Version
Another re-working, from the original London version with 4 verses, giving priority to Dinah and Pearl over Buffy and Ashley.
| Dinah: | Like me, I’m Dinah, I'm the dining car |
| I'll cook for you and listen while you lean upon my bar | |
| I'll serve you with your dinner while the train goes loop-de-loop | |
| Gee I'm sorry gentlemen, I hope you wanted soup. | |
| Buffy: | I'm Buffy, have a sandwich, Each one is curled by hand. |
| Ashley: | I'm Ashley, I'm a smoker, The last one in the land. |
| Buffy: | I stack the snacks in plastic packs, The range is really wide. |
| Ashley: | Eat the plastic, that's fantastic, |
| Both: | But don't touch what's inside! |
1993 Las Vegas Version
"Rusty Can't Be Serious" Vegas alternative
| Ashley: | Hey listen to the one man band |
| Buffy: | Rusty, you don’t understand |
| Dinah: | You’ll be nowhere, you’ll be last |
| Pearl: | You ain’t going nowhere fast |
All four Coaches shared the first verse, and Pearl also had her solo verse.
| Dinah: | You need a dining car so you can eat what’s right. |
| Ashley: | You need a smoking car to get you through the night. |
| Buffy: | You need a buffet car or you’ll die of thirst. |
| Pearl: | You need a car with class and that class is first. |
