Belle, the Sleeping Car, also known as Belle's Song, is Belle's introduction song. The character, and her solo, only appeared in the 1984 London production and the 1987 Broadway production.
Context[]
Rusty is downcast since he hasn't got a partner for the race. Pearl decided to race with Electra rather than him, and all the other coaches already have partners, so Poppa introduces him to Belle, the old Sleeping Car. Immediately following her song, Rusty did indeed race with Belle, only to be beaten by Electra and Pearl.
The 1987 Broadway production streamlined the race structure, and in doing so, removed the opportunity for Rusty to race in the heats. This meant that although introduced to Belle, she lacked opportunity to actively assist Rusty, instead she simply went back to sleep at the end of this number.
Although the song itself was cut when the character of Belle was removed, the musical motif remains, most notably sung by Rusty and Dustin immediately following the Starlight Sequence.
Parallels have been drawn between "Belle's Song" and the enormous hit "Memory" from Cats, written 3 years previously. There are similar themes of the old beauty, past her prime, regretting her lost youth and place in society. However, Belle's song is less tragic, she may be old fashioned but, in a very literal sense, she's not out of the race yet.
Lyrics[]
Original London Lyrics[]
| BELLE: | Looks and youth ain't everything |
| Experience is a quality that counts for a lot | |
| The sad thing 'bout experience, | |
| Is by the time you've got it | |
| It's usually all you've got | |
| I'm Belle, Belle, Belle the sleeping car | |
| Doesn't matter who you are | |
| Just climb aboard to lie with me | |
| And when you wake I'll make you tea | |
| A Pullman car when I was made | |
| I went down for the seaside trade | |
| I'm peeling now, the light's too bright | |
| I wear dark glasses day and night | |
| I had crystal lamps, Irish linen | |
| To set off my red velvet dress | |
| Those who rode on me compared me to | |
| The Orient Express - that was excessive | |
| But now they climb aboard, undress | |
| Don't wait for me to whisper, 'yes' | |
| Don't say goodnight, just hit the light | |
| And worst of all turn over and go straight to sleep | |
| Once I was a real main liner | |
| Enjoying the occasional smoke | |
| Now I hang around the fuel dump | |
| Sniffing the coke, It really chokes me | |
| I'm Belle, Belle, Belle the sleeping truck | |
| I'm down at wheel down off my luck | |
| I may not be first class but I'm not yet worst class | |
| I can still warm you when the night is cold | |
| I'm a sleeper with a heart of gold | |
| I can still warm you when the night is cold | |
| I'm a sleeper with a heart of gold |
Broadway Lyrics[]
| BELLE: | Looks and youth ain't everything |
| Experience is a quality that counts for a lot | |
| The sad thing 'bout experience, | |
| Is by the time you've got it | |
| It's usually all you've got | |
| I'm Memphis Belle, the sleeping car | |
| Doesn't matter who you are | |
| Pay your fare and climb aboard | |
| I'll make you feel you're a lord | |
| When I was young, I was the toast | |
| Those who took me to the coast | |
| Then one great day, when we dined with Kent, | |
| I was bought by Mr Vandterbilt | |
| I had crystal lamps, Irish linen | |
| To set off my red velvet dress | |
| Those who rode on me compared me to | |
| The Orient Express - that was excessive... | |
| But now I get the sort of guys | |
| Who take their teeth out - then their eyes | |
| Don't say goodnight, just hit the light | |
| And wheeze and snore to Baltimore | |
| Seen a lot of judges disrobing | |
| And statesmen in states of undress | |
| One day I shall sell my memoirs to | |
| The popular press - or True Confessions | |
| I'm Belle, Belle, Belle the sleeping car | |
| Won't you catch me, falling star... | |
| Pearl of a nation, way beneath my station | |
| But I can still warm you when the night is cold | |
| I'm a sleeper with a heart of gold |
Gallery[]
