"Engine of Love" is the oldest song in Starlight Express. It was written in 1977, but not incorporated into the show until the Broadway production in 1987.
Context
Greaseball and his Gang have just finished their ode to Rolling Stock, when Rusty is heard in the distance, bringing with him the passenger coaches. Together they sing "Engine of Love", a fun, up-beat number about the power of steam.
When used, "Engine of Love" is usually the third track and the second major song in the show. In the original West End production, "Call Me Rusty" was the second major song and the melody of "Engine of Love" was used for Pearl's pop number, "He Whistled at Me". The London show imported some of the Broadway revisions in 1988, including "Engine of Love" and "Make Up My Heart ". In the major 1992 revision, "Engine of Love was replaced by "Crazy" and its melody was once again used for Pearl's number in "He'll Whistle At Me", a dreamy ballad rendition of "He Whistled At Me".
History
Original 1977 Concept Recording Version
"Engine of "Love" is the oldest song in Starlight Express, having been written in 1977 as a concept recording to promote Andrew Lloyd Webber's idea of doing a musical with trains. It was first heard in Starlight Express on Broadway in 1987.
As a child, Webber read The Railway Series (otherwise known as the Thomas the Tank Engine books) by The Rev. W. Awdry and his son Christopher Awdry and retained such an affection for the books that he called one of his companies The Really Useful Company after the really useful engines in the stories.
The project came to nothing, but three years later, Webber started working on a project of a Cinderella story using trains and proposed to release an album called "Soul Train." The release of the album turned out to be "Engine of Love" and "Steaming" sung by Earl Jordan and the Steam Team. Earl Jordan had an unusual talent of singing three notes at the same time, making it sound like a train whistle. The music was composed by Webber and the lyrics were written by Peter Reeves.
Broadway Version
When Starlight Express came to Broadway, Pearl's use of the melody in "He Whistled At Me" was replaced by "Make Up My Heart" and "Engine of Love" made its first appearance. It has been used for a majority of productions afterwards. The lyrics are by Richard Stilgoe. This version of the song also appeared in the Japan/Australia tours.
Bochum Versions
The Broadway version of "Engine of Love" was performed in Bochum in full until 2003. In 2003 it was shortened into a version that also incorporates elements of "Taunting Rusty". In 2008, "Engine of Love" was removed entirely. The song's title in German is "Liebesexpress".
Alternative Version
An alternative version of "Engine of Love" first appeared on the Broadway album "Music & Songs from Starlight Express" and was sung by Peter Hewlett. The verses are completely different from those used in the 1977 concept recording and the 1987 Broadway version. This version was also heard in the Toronto Studio Recording (not a cast album), and the 1988 Bochum Cast Recording, although the German version uses the same lyrics used on the stage.
Video
Lyrics
1977 Original Concept Lyrics
| Earl: | WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO! |
| Steam Team: | Engine of Love, |
| Take me with you baby | |
| Just pull me along, | |
| Right along the line. | |
| Earl: | Whoo-whoo! |
| Steam Team: | Getting up steam! |
| Earl: | Wheels squeal! |
| Steam Team: | We're a mighty team! |
| Earl: | Burn n' churn |
| Steam Team: | You're a big machine |
| Gonna put a little rock in the rolling stock! | |
| Earl: | Hang on now baby! |
| Steam Team: | There ain’t no power like the power of steam! |
| Earl: | It’s got more drive than oil or gasoline. |
| More power than rocket fuel or electricity. | |
| You want to feel it baby? | |
| Take a ride with me now on the- | |
| Steam Team: | Steam Train! |
| Riding, riding, riding on the- | |
| Steam Train! | |
| Don’t go in no siding on the- | |
| Steam Train! | |
| See the world go gliding by the- | |
| Steam Train! | |
| Earl: | No resistance, |
| To my pistons! | |
| Steam Team: | Engine of Love, |
| Take me with you baby! | |
| Earl: | Oh, baby! |
| Steam Team: | Just pull me along! |
| Earl: | Along! |
| Steam Team: | Right along the line! |
| Cause you’re my | |
| Engine of Love! | |
| Earl: | Sing it baby! |
| Steam Team: | Thrill me with your motion. |
| Earl: | Ah! Keep on the track now! |
| Steam Team: | And I’ll follow you! |
| Your track can be mine! | |
| Earl: | WHOO-WHOO! |
| Steam Team: | Riding, riding, riding, riding! |
| Earl: | WHOO-WHOO! |
| Steam Team: | Riding, riding, riding! |
| The sound of the mighty steam engine is something terrific! | |
| Earl: | Just think of the Big Boy on the Union Pacific! |
| Steam Team: | Has a method of locomotion, it’s always scorned. |
| Earl: | So don’t hear the tale baby, climb on board! |
| Steam Team: | Engine of Love! |
| Earl: | Whoo-whoo! |
| Steam Team: | Take me with you baby! |
| Earl: | Oh, baby! |
| Steam Team: | Just pull me along! |
| Earl: | AH! I’ll pull you honey! |
| Steam Team: | Right along your line! |
| Cause you’re my | |
| Earl & Steam Team: | Engine of Love! |
| Steam Team: | Thrill me with your motion. |
| Earl: | Such emotion! |
| Steam Team: | And I’ll follow you! |
| Earl: | Sing it baby! |
| Steam Team: | Your track can be mine! |
| Earl: | AH! |
| Steam Team: | Cause you’re my Engine of Love! |
| Earl: | Whoo-whoo! |
| Steam Team: | Take me with you baby! |
| Earl: | Oh baby! |
| Steam Team: | Just pull me along! |
| Earl: | Pull you along! |
| Steam Team: | Right along your line! |
| Earl: | Along my line! |
| WHOOO! WHOO! | |
| OW! WHOO-WHOO | |
| Steam Team: | Steam! |
1987 Broadway Concept Album Lyrics
| Coaches: | Nobody can do it like a steam train! |
| Steam! | |
| Nobody can do it like a steam train! | |
| Steam! | |
| Whoo-whoo! | |
| Steam! | |
| Whoo-whoo! | |
| Steam power! | |
| Whoo-whoo! | |
| Steam! | |
| Whoo-whoo! | |
| Steam Power | |
| Steam! | |
| Rusty: | Working in the yard burning all of my daylight |
| Working till it's time to play | |
| Watching the clock till the time is my own now | |
| Watch me, I'm a runaway! | |
| Coaches: | Engine of love, take me with you baby |
| Rusty: | I'll take you along, right along the line |
| Coaches: | Cause you’re my |
| Engine of love | |
| Rusty: | I'll thrill you with emotion. |
| If you'll follow me, your love can be mine | |
| Coaches: | Whoo-whoo! |
| Whoo-whoo! | |
| Rusty: | Heading for the coast, hey nobody can catch me |
| Won’t stop until I reach the sea | |
| Nothing else will do, got to be with you now | |
| Come and take a ride with me! | |
| Coaches: | Engine of love, take me with you baby |
| Rusty: | I'll take you along, right along the line |
| Coaches: | Cause you’re my |
| Engine of love | |
| Rusty: | I'll thrill you with emotion. |
| If you'll follow me, your love can be mine | |
| Coaches: | Steam! |
| Whoo-whoo! Whoo-whoo-whoo! | |
| Steam! | |
| Whoo-whoo! | |
| Steam power! | |
| Whoo-whoo-whoo! | |
| Steam | |
| Nobody can do it like a Whoo-whoo! | |
| Engine of love, take me with you baby | |
| Rusty: | I'll take you along, right along the line |
| Coaches: | Cause you’re my |
| Engine of love | |
| Rusty: | I'll thrill you with emotion. |
| If you'll follow me, your love can be mine | |
| Coaches: | Cause you’re my |
| Engine of love, take me with you baby | |
| Rusty: | I’ll take you along, take you right along my line. |
| Hey! Your love can be mine! | |
| Coaches: | Cause you’re my |
| Engine of love | |
| Rusty: | I'll thrill you with emotion. |
| If you'll follow me, your love can be mine | |
| I wanna be your | |
| Rusty & Coaches: | Engine of love |
| Coaches: | Take me with you baby |
| Rusty: | I’ll take you along, take you right along my line. |
| Hey! Your love can be mine! |
1987 Original Broadway Lyrics
| Rusty & Coaches: | Woo-woo, woo-woo! |
| Nobody can do it like a steam train! | |
| Woo-woo, woo-woo! | |
| Nobody can do it like a steam train | |
| Coaches: | There ain't no power like the power of steam |
| Rusty: | You wanna feel it baby? Take a ride with me! |
| Coaches: | Engine of love, take me with you baby |
| Rusty: | I'll pull you along, right along the line |
| 'Cause I'm your | |
| Coaches: | Engine of love |
| Rusty: | I'll thrill you with my motion. |
| If you'll follow me, your track can be mine | |
| Coaches: | The sight of the mighty steam engine is something terrific |
| Rusty: | Just remember the Big Boy on the Union Pacific |
| Coaches: | Firebox hotter then the desert sand |
| Rusty: | So why don't you come with me, right across the land! |
| Rusty & Coaches: | Engine of love, take me with you baby |
| Just pull me along, right along the line | |
| Rusty: | 'Cause I'm your engine of love, I'll thrill you with my motion |
| Coaches: | Such emotion |
| Rusty: | If you'll follow me, your track can be mine |
| Rusty & Coaches: | Woo-woo, woo-woo! |
| Nobody can do it like a steam train | |
| Woo-woo, woo-woo! | |
| Nobody can do it like a steam train! |
1988 Original German Lyrics
| Rusty: | Wohwoo, wohwoo, |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! | |
| Gang: | Das ist Rusty! |
| Zeig's ihm! | |
| Gib's ihm! | |
| Greaseball: | Später! |
| Rusty & Coaches: | Wohwoo, wohwoo, |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! | |
| Wohwoo, wohwoo, | |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! | |
| Coaches: | Die beste Zugkraft, ist die Zugkraft mit Dampf! |
| Rusty: | Wenn du's erleben willst, komm' mit mir heut' Nacht! |
| Coaches: | Liebesexpress, nimm' mich mit auf Reisen. |
| Rusty: | Ich fahr' mit dir durch das ganze Land. |
| Ich bin dein | |
| Rusty & Coaches: | Liebesexpress |
| Rusty: | Ich bring' dich in Bewegung. |
| Wenn du an mir hängst, geht die Fahrt ins Glück! | |
| Coaches: | Die Riesendampflok ist wahrlich ein mächtiger Anblick. |
| Rusty: | Wie zum Beispiel der Big Boy von der Union Pacific |
| Coaches: | Er ist heißer, als der Wüstensand |
| Rusty: | Wenn du's erleben willst, komm' mit mir durch's Land! |
| Coaches: | Liebesexpress, nimm mich mit auf Reisen! |
| Ich folge dir gern' durch das ganze Land! | |
| Rusty: | Ich bin dein Liebesexpress, |
| ich bring' dich in Bewegung | |
| Coaches: | in Bewegung. |
| Rusty: | Wenn du an mir hängst, geht die Faht ins Glück. |
| Rusty & Coaches: | Du bist mein Liebesexpress. |
| Nimm mich mit auf Reisen, | |
| Ich folge dir gern durch das ganze Land. | |
| Wohwoo, wohwoo, | |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! | |
| Wohwoo, wohwoo, | |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! |
2003 shortened version
| Rusty: | Wohwoo, wohwoo, |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! | |
| Gang: | Das ist Rusty! |
| Zeig's ihm! | |
| Gib's ihm! | |
| Greaseball: | Später! |
| Jeder kann es denn besser, als die Dampflok | |
| Rusty & Coaches: | Wohwoo, wohwoo, |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! | |
| Wohwoo, wohwoo, | |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! | |
| Coaches: | Die beste Zugkraft, ist die Zugkraft mit Dampf! |
| Rusty: | Wenn du's erleben willst, komm' mit mir heut' Nacht! |
| Coaches: | Liebesexpress, nimm' mich mit auf Reisen. |
| Rusty: | Ich fahr' mit dir durch das ganze Land. |
| Ich bin dein | |
| Rusty & Coaches: | Liebesexpress |
| Rusty: | Ich bring' dich in Bewegung. |
| Wenn du an mir hängst, geht die Fahrt ins Glück! | |
| Coaches: | Die Riesendampflok ist wahrlich ein mächtiger Anblick. |
| Rusty: | Wie zum Beispiel der Big Boy von der Union Pacific |
| Coaches: | Er ist heißer, als der Wüstensand |
| Rusty: | Wenn du's erleben willst, komm' mit mir durch's Land! |
| Coaches: | Liebesexpress, nimm mich mit auf Reisen! |
| Ich folge dir gern' durch das ganze Land! | |
| Wohwoo, wohwoo, | |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok! | |
| Wohwoo, wohwoo, | |
| keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok | |
| Greaseball: | Du machst mit beim Rennen, Dampflok? |
| Rusty: | Na klar! |
| Gang: | Keiner kann es besser, als die Dampflok. |
| Greaseball: | Wer kann es denn besser, als die Dampflok? |
| Gang: | Er sagt: Niemand. Dann ist er wohl Niemand!
|
| Greaseball: | Und hab' mehr Respekt vor Diesel! |
| Gang: | Denn Diesel wird gewinnen, okay, Rusty? |
| Greaseball: | Okay, Dampflok? |
| Gang: | Okay, Rusty? |
| Controll: | Schluss jetzt! Ihr Dieselloks, macht euch an die Arbeit!
|
| Gang: | Hörst du, Rusty? Rusty bye bye. |
| Greaseball: | Hol's die Wagons und stell' sie auf die Bahn! |
| Gang: | Hörst du, Rusty? Rusty bye bye. |
| Greaseball: | Es sei denn, du willst mit beim Rennen fahr'n? |
| Gang: | Hörst du, Rusty? Rusty bye bye.
|
| Greaseball: | Hey, rostig, bye bye! |
| (into This Is Gonna be the Day) |
Gallery
Trivia
The lyrics refer to 'terrific sight' of 'the Big Boy on the Union Pacific'. The Big Boy was a famously powerful steam engine, designed in the 1940s to haul heavy loads across an area of Utah known to railroad companies as 'the helper district' because, before the Big Boy was invented, there wasn’t a locomotive powerful enough to make the climb without helper engines to pull them along[1]. By evoking the Big Boy, Rusty is reminiscing about a time when steam trains inspired awe.