"Call Me Rusty" is a song in Act 1 in which Rusty responds to being mocked by Greaseball and his Gang. Its length, its lyrics and its position in the show have changed many times with difference productions.
Context[]
Rusty is sent by Control to fetch the coaches, while Greaseball and his Gang laugh at him. Rusty vents his anger at how the other engines disregard him, and sings about his determination to prove his ability by winning the race. However the coaches worry that he will overstretch his ability and damage himself.
Music[]
Rusty's introduction is heralded by his distinctive steam train "Woo-woo" whistle, which becomes a recurring theme through the show. The coaches' section of the song also becomes a reoccurring motif.
History[]
Original London production[]
In the original production, "Call Me Rusty" was the audience's introduction to Rusty. It followed "Taunting Rusty". At the end of the song, the Coaches addressed him directly in "Rusty Can't Be Serious".
Broadway[]
The Broadway Production replaced "Call Me Rusty" with "Engine of Love", a less angry, more fun pop song. A fragment of "Call Me Rusty"'s melody, however, was used with different lyrics and titled "This is Gonna be the Day".
"New Starlight Express" 1992[]
In the 1992 London revamp, "Call Me Rusty" was shortened to a two-verse fragment between "Taunting Rusty" and "A Lotta Locomotion". Rusty sings two verses of "Call Me Rusty", with the coaches ad-libbing comments, but they do not sing. In these productions, Rusty left the stage as he finished this song, leaving the coaches behind.
Bochum[]
At first, the Bochum production used a version, similar to the Broadway, as a coda to "Engine of Love", and used lyrics similar to the contemporary 1988 London version with Pearl having reservations about racing with Rusty.
Later, the production removed replaced "Engine of Love" with the later London fragment version of "Call Me Rusty", translated as "Nennt mich Rostig".
In 2018, they reintroduced part of the full number, including the second verse, the coaches mid-section and the third verse.
2003 Tours[]
The 2003 US tour used the same music as the later London version with new lyrics by David Yazbek. For the later UK tours, however, these were reverted to the later London version.
Lyrics[]
1983 Workshop Lyrics[]
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you like |
| Rusty's how I look | |
| And Rusty's my name | |
| Slow corrosion is eroding my frame | |
| Call me Rusty if you like | |
| Call me Rusty if you must | |
| It isn't nice but I admit that it fits | |
| For a dead-end engine falling to bits | |
| Call me Rusty if you like | |
| RUSTY: | This is not the dream I dreamed when they first lit my fire |
| Mainline coaches streamed behind as my steam rose higher | |
| Switching and hitching at everyone's call | |
| Never occurred in my vision at all | |
| But when they start the racing and you notice the steam | |
| You know it's me that's moving on | |
| And proving you should listen to your dream | |
| Call me Rusty if you dare | |
| 'Cause when you see me on the finishing line | |
| And when I take the place that's rightfully mine | |
| Call me Rusty if you dare | |
| 'Cause when you see me on the finishing line | |
| And when I take the place that's rightfully mine | |
| Call me Rusty if you dare | |
| COACHES: | Listen to this big shot talking he seems to imply |
| All the trains will just move over and let him by | |
| Rusty you can not believe all that stuff | |
| You mustn't go racing you're not tough enough | |
| You'll either be a hundred miles away at the back | |
| Or worse they'll find you scattered | |
| In a million rusty pieces 'round the track | |
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you dare |
| 'Cause when you see me on the finishing line | |
| And when I take the place that's rightfully mine | |
| Call me Rusty if you dare | |
| 'Cause when you see me on the finishing line | |
| And when I take the place that's rightfully mine | |
| Call me Rusty | |
| COACHES: | Hello Rusty, good boy Rusty, hello Rusty, good boy Rusty |
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty I don't care! |
Original London Lyrics[]
Full-length song.
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you like |
| Rusty's how I look | |
| And Rusty's my name | |
| Slow corrosion is eroding my frame | |
| Call me Rusty if you like | |
| Call me Rusty if you must | |
| It isn't nice but I admit that it fits | |
| For a dead-end engine falling to bits | |
| Call me Rusty if you like | |
| COACHES: | Come on Rusty, |
| Come on Rusty, | |
| Come on Rusty | |
| RUSTY: | This is not the dream I dreamed when they first lit my fire |
| Mainline coaches streamed behind as my steam rose higher | |
| Switching and hitching at everyone's call | |
| Never occurred in my vision at all | |
| But when they start the racing and you notice the steam | |
| You know it's me that's moving on | |
| And proving you should listen to your dream | |
| Call me Rusty if you dare | |
| 'Cause when you see me on the finishing line | |
| And when I take the place that's rightfully mine | |
| Call me Rusty if you dare | |
| COACHES: | Listen to this big shot talking he seems to imply |
| All the trains will just move over and let him by | |
| PEARL: | Rusty you can not believe all that stuff |
| COACHES: | You mustn't go racing you're not tough enough |
| You'll either be a hundred miles away at the back | |
| Or worse they'll find you scattered | |
| In a million rusty pieces 'round the track | |
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you dare |
| 'Cause when you see me on the finishing line | |
| And when I take the place that's rightfully mine | |
| Call me Rusty | |
| COACHES: | Hello Rusty, good boy Rusty, hello Rusty, good boy Rusty |
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty I don't care! |
Call Me Rusty - Ray Shell London 1984 Audio
AUDIO - London 1984. Taunting Rusty - Greaseball, Gang and Rusty, and Call Me Rusty - Rusty, Coaches
Revised London Lyrics[]
Fragment Version
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you like. | ||
| DINAH: | Cool off! | ||
| RUSTY: | Soon I'll know just how a champion feels | ||
| BUFFY: | Don't Push | ||
| RUSTY: | When I show the rest a clean pair of wheels | ||
| ASHLEY: | Who d'ya think you're shoving? | ||
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you like. | ||
| PEARL: | Rusty, turn your fire down! | ||
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you dare | ||
| ASHLEY: | He'll blow his top | ||
| RUSTY: | Cos when you see me on the finishing line | ||
| BUFFY: | He's off the rails | ||
| RUSTY; | And when I take the place that's rightfully mine | ||
| DINAH: | He always fails! | ||
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you Dare! |
1997 Mexico + Translation[]
Soy Mexicano y que? (I'm Mexican, so what?) sung by Ferro (Rusty) accompanied by; Botana (Buffy), Bacha (Ashley) Vianda (Dinah), and Perla (Pearl).[1]
| FERRO (Spanish): | Si, Soy Mexicano y que? | RUSTY (English): | Yeah, I'm Mexican, so what? |
| BOTANA: | No te calientes | BUFFY: | Don't get heated! |
| FERRO: | Pronto sentire que es ser campeón | RUSTY: | Soon I'll feel what it's like to be the champion |
| BACHA: | No te aceleres | ASHLEY: | Don't go so fast! |
| FERRO: | Y veran a mi caldera en acción | RUSTY: | And they will see my boiler in action |
| VIANDA: | Para tu tren Ferro | DINAH: | Stop your train Rusty! |
| FERRO: | Si, Soy Mexicano y que? | RUSTY: | Yeah, I'm Mexican, so what? |
| PERLA: | Ferro, bajale te vas a quemar | PEARL: | Rusty, take it easy, you're going to burn |
| FERRO: | Si, Soy Mexicano y ya | RUSTY: | Yeah, I'm Mexican, so what? |
| COCHES: | A explotar | COACHES: | He'll explode! |
| FERRO: | Pero llegaré a la meta final | RUSTY: | But when I arrive to the finish line |
| COCHES: | Woo se fue a la luna | COACHES: | Woo. He went to the moon |
| FERRO: | Y veran que subo al pedestal | RUSTY: | And you'll see that I'll rise to the pedestal |
| COCHES: | Jamás da una | COACHES: | There won't be one |
| FERRO: | México les ganará | RUSTY: | Mexico will win it! |
2nd US Tour Lyrics[]
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty |
| If you want! | |
| COACH: | Come on Rusty! |
| RUSTY: | Soon I'll show you |
| And I'll show you good | |
| COACH: | Don't push! |
| RUSTY: | There's a champion |
| Underneath my hood | |
| COACH: | Get a grip! |
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty |
| If you want! | |
| Call me Rusty | |
| If you like! | |
| COACH: | Cool it, Stream Train! |
| RUSTY: | That's my name |
| And I will carry it proud | |
| COACH: | ??? |
| RUSTY: | When I'm steaming out |
| I tell the crowd | |
| COACHES: | Yeah right! |
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty |
| That's my name! |
German Lyrics[]
Rusty's Demütigung is the German version of the London revamp fragment that was used up until the update in 2018.
| RUSTY: | Nennt mich rostig, wenn ihr wollt! | ||
| DINAH: | Ganz ruhig! | ||
| RUSTY: | Ihr sollt seh'n, wie stark und schnell ich noch bin! | ||
| BUFFY: | Dück' nicht so! | ||
| RUSTY: | Wenn ich gegen euch das Rennen gewinn'! | ||
| ASHLEY: | Hey, nicht schubsen! | ||
| RUSTY: | Nennt mich rostig, wenn ihr wollt! | ||
| PEARL: | Rusty, nicht so feurig. | ||
| RUSTY: | Nennt mich rostig, wenn ihr meint! | ||
| ASHLEY: | Gleich geht er hoch! | ||
| RUSTY: | Aber bald wird euch das Lachen vergeh'n. | ||
| BUFFY: | Ich frag' mich wie? | ||
| RUSTY: | Denn dann werde ich als Sieger da steh'n. | ||
| DINAH: | Das schafft er nie! | ||
| RUSTY: | Nennt mich rostig, wenn ihr meint! |
2017 London Workshop Lyrics[]
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you dare! | ||
| When you see me on the finishing line! | |||
| And when I take the place that's rightfully mine! | |||
| Call me Rusty if you dare! | |||
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you like! | ||
| RHINEHOLD: | I need more oil! | ||
| Soon I'll know just how a champion feels! | |||
| NINTENDO: | Get on the boil! | ||
| When I show the rest a clear pair of wheels! | |||
| TURNOV: | Get to work! | ||
| Call me Rusty if you like! | |||
| COCO: | He's the one who says he's crazy, and he's lazy! | ||
| COACHES: | Listen to this big shot talking, he seems to imply, | ||
| All the trains will just move over and let him by, | |||
| PEARL: | He's never discovered where fantasy ends! | ||
| He thinks we're a couple | |||
| COACHES: | They're only good friends. | ||
| PEARL: | And even if I raced with him, he'd still be at the back! | ||
| Or worse they'll find him scattered in a | |||
| COACHES: | Million rusty pieces down the track. | ||
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you dare! | ||
| 'Cos when you see me on the finishing line! | |||
| And when I get the name that's rightfully mine! | |||
| Call me Rusty I don't care! |
2018 German Lyrics[]
| RUSTY: | Nennt mich Rusty wenn ihr wollt! | ||
| Ihr sollt seh‘n wie stark und schnell ich noch bin! | |||
| Wenn ich gegen euch das Rennen gewinn! | |||
| Nennt mich Rusty wenn ihr wollt | |||
| RUSTY: | Nennt mich Rusty wenn ihr meint! | ||
| ESPRESSO: | Besorg mir Sprit! | ||
| Aber bald wird euch das Lachen vergehen! | |||
| BREXIT: | Der ist der Hit! | ||
| Denn dann werde ich als Sieger da stehen! | |||
| TURNOV: | Mach deinen Job! | ||
| Nennt mich Rusty wenn ihr meint! | |||
| COCO: | Er ist nicht dicht! | ||
| MANGA: | Ein kleines Licht | ||
| GREASEBALL: | Das wir vernichten. | ||
| COACHES: | Er ist wirklich so verrückt, dass er glaubt er gewinnt | ||
| Dass die großen Kerle gegen ihn machtlos sind, | |||
| BELLE: | Er hat keine Chance, er sieht es nicht ein! | ||
| CARRIE: | Sie sind so viel schneller | ||
| DINAH: | Und er ist so klein. | ||
| COACHES: | Wenn er sich bei dem Rennen zu sehr anstrengt läuft er heiß | ||
| DINAH: | Und schlimmer noch er liegt vielleicht | ||
| COACHES: | In Tausend kleinen Stücken auf dem Gleis. | ||
| RUSTY: | Nennt mich Rusty wenn ihr wollt! | ||
| Ihr sollt sehn wie stark und schnell ich noch bin | |||
| Wenn ich gegen euch das Rennen gewinn | |||
| Nennt mich Rusty wenn ihr meint! |
2018 German Lyrics Translation[]
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you like! | ||
| You should see how strong and fast I still am! | |||
| When I win the race against you! | |||
| Call me Rusty if you like, | |||
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you insist. | ||
| ESPRESSO: | Get me some gasoline! | ||
| But soon you’ll stop laughing! | |||
| BREXIT: | He’s a Hit! | ||
| Cause then I‘ll stand there as the winner | |||
| TURNOV: | Do your job! | ||
| Call me Rusty if you insist. | |||
| COCO: | He‘s bonkers | ||
| MANGA: | A little light | ||
| GREASEBALL: | Which we‘ll destroy. | ||
| COACHES: | He‘s really so crazy that he thinks he will win. | ||
| That the big guys are powerless against him | |||
| BELLE: | He doesn’t stand a chance, he doesn’t accept it | ||
| CARRIE: | They’re so much faster | ||
| DINAH: | And he‘s so small | ||
| COACHES: | If he tries to hard in the race, he‘ll overheat | ||
| DINAH: | Or worse, maybe he lies | ||
| COACHES: | In a thousand tiny pieces on the rails! | ||
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you like! | ||
| You should see how strong and fast I still am | |||
| When I win the race against you | |||
| Call me Rusty if you insist! |
2024 Wembley Lyrics[]
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you dare! |
| When you see me on the finishing line | |
| When I take the place that's rightfully mine | |
| Call me Rusty if you dare! | |
| Call me Rusty if you like | |
| GOLDEN EAGLE: | He'll blow his top! |
| RUSTY: | Soon you'll know just how a champion feels |
| BLUE LIGHTNING: | He's off the rails! |
| RUSTY: | When I show the rest a clean pair of wheels |
| CHAMPIONS: | He always fails! |
| RUSTY | Call me Rusty if you dare! |
| GOLDEN EAGLE: | He's in a daze! |
| ORANGE FLASH: | He knows he's crazy! |
| GREASEBALL: | And he's lazy! |
| COACHES: | Listen to this big shot talking |
| He seems to imply! | |
| All the trains will just move over | |
| And let him by! | |
| DINAH: | He thinks all the big boys |
| Will let him go past | |
| TASSITA: | They're big and he's little |
| COACHES: | He's slow, and they're fast |
| RUSTY: | Call me Rusty if you dare |
| 'Cos when you see me on the finishing line | |
| When I take the place that's rightfully mine | |
| Call me Rusty, I don't- |
Gallery[]
