To open Act Two, all the characters face off over who races with who, who will win the prize of the Silver Dollar/The Race.
Context[]
When Starlight Express came to Broadway, "The Rap" was replaced with a song called "Hymn to the Silver Dollar", later re-titled to "Hymn to Victory." It includes "Pearl Twirl" which in other productions can be considered a standalone scene.
This number consists of a number of sections:
- An orchestral Entr'acte - a more standard overture style medley of themes used in the show;
- A full ensemble argument that bears similarities to the earlier Rap number, with various characters taking solos and arguing over who races with who;
- An announcement by Control;
- "Pearl Twirl" is incorporated in the number;
- "Hymn", a reprise of the engines' confrontation in "Coda Freight".
Different productions used a variety of these elements to open Act Two.
"Silver Dollar", Broadway 1987
"Hymn to the Silver Dollar" was written for the Broadway production to underline the significance of The Silver Dollar, the prize that the engines raced for. Later in the Broadway run, The Silver Dollar concept was cut and the engines once again raced for the title of the Championship Engine of the World. "Hymn to the Silver Dollar" was rewritten to "Hymn to Victory."
Other productions that include "Hymn to Victory" are the 1987 Japanese/Australian Tour, and the Bochum production.
Broadway - Argument, Control, Hymn, Pearl Twirl
Japan/Australia - Pearl Twirl, Hymn, Control
Bochum - Entr'Acte, Argument, Control, Pearl Twirl, Hymn
Lyrics[]
Broadway Argument[]
| COMPONENTS: | I name Electra the favorite, |
| GANG: | Anyone can win it but a steam train, |
| COACHES: | I'd have to go for the diesel, |
| RUSTY: | Pearl would come back if I can win the dollar, |
| RED CABOOSE: | Just call on me, if I can help I will. |
| ELECTRA: | Look at the champion, stuck without Dinah. |
| You oughta go and get some new wheels. | |
| GREASEBALL: | You wanna see a fast worker? |
| There's not a coach here wouldn't go with me. | |
| ROCKY: | Except for Pearl, |
| ROCKY 2: | You couldn't get Pearl, |
| GREASEBALL: | You think I couldn't? |
| Just watch me. | |
| I hear that you're a transformer, | |
| ELECTRA: | All you diesel engines talk so crude, |
| DINAH: | Greaseball stop it! |
| ELECTRA: | You can't have Pearl! |
Control[]
| CONTROL: | We are in the final minutes |
| Before the countdown to the great race | |
| On this night of nights! | |
| The race across America which will decide | |
| Who is the fastest locomotive in the world! | |
| A very short time from now | |
| We will know who will carry | |
| The Silver Dollar into the record books. | |
| Does everyone have their partner? | |
| You don't have a partner, | |
| You can't dance. |
Pearl's Twirl[]
| GREASEBALL: | So what you say then, Pearl? |
| You wanna try a whirl? | |
| You hear me knocking. | |
| PEARL: | Knock, knock, |
| GREASEBALL: | Who's there? |
| PEARL: | Pearl. |
| GREASEBALL: | Pearl who? |
| PEARL: | Pearl-ease can I go with you? |
| GREASEBALL: | You hear me knocking, |
| PEARL: | I hear you, You're knocking, it's shocking! |
| DINAH: | I hope you're satisfied with what you've done! |
| You could've had your choice and took my only one. | |
| PEARL: | Hey come on Dinah, it's only fun, |
| So quit crying, quit crying. | |
| GREASEBALL: | I'm pumping iron! |
Hymn[]
| ELECTRA: | Clear my track! I'm gonna win it! | |
| GREASEBALL: | I'm gonna beat you, I'm gonna win! | |
| COACHES/FREIGHT: | Gonna be there, gonna be there, | |
| ENGINES: | Rain... storm... | |
| Gonna be in it, gonna be in it. | wind... sun... | |
| Running the race running the race. | I'll be there, | |
| I'm gonna win it or I'll get a place. | number one! | |
| Gonna be there, gonna be there, | Rain... storm... | |
| I'm gonna win it, I'm gonna win it. | wind... sun... | |
| I'm gonna win the race... | I'll be there, | |
| I'll be victorious I'm gonna win! | number one! | |
| COACHES: | We're going for greatness, | Power |
| FREIGHT: | We've had it with lateness, | |
| COACHES: | To fail to be first, | Glory |
| FREIGHT: | Is no better than worst | |
| Who cares if you're fast... | Power | |
| COACHES: | You're first or you're last! | |
| FREIGHT: | First | Glory |
| COACHES: | Worst | |
| FREIGHT: | Fast | |
| COACHES: | Last | |
| ALL: | Power, | |
| Glory! | ||
| I'll be victorious... | I'm gonna win. | |
| I'm gonna win. | I'll be victorious. | |
| I'll be victorious. | I'm gonna win! | |
| I'm gonna win! | ||
| I'm gonna win, gonna win, gonna win! | ||
| CONTROL: | The countdown has begun! | |
| Snap it up Dinah, you’ll be late for dinner... |
Parade German Lyrics[]
| COMPONENTS: | Mein Favorit ist Electra, |
| GANG & GREASEBALL: | Huah! Jeder hat 'ne Chance außer der Dampflok! |
| COACHES: | Gewinnen kann nur der Diesel! |
| RUSTY: | Pearl, kommt zurück, wenn ich im Rennen siege. |
| RED CABOOSE: | Wenn du mich brauchst, dann bin ich für dich da! |
| ELECTRA: | Selbst mal der Champion sitzt in der Klemme. Denn ohne Dinah kann er nicht fahr'n! |
| GREASEBALL: | Du wirst gleich seh'n, ich bin schneller! |
| Deswegen bin ich hier der Favorit. | |
| ROCKY: | Außer bei Pearl! |
| ROCKY 2: | Die kriegst du doch nie! |
| GREASEBALL: | Ich werd's dir zeigen, pass bloß auf! |
| Man sagt, du bist ein Transformer. | |
| ELECTRA: | Dieselzüge sind wirklich gemein! |
| DINAH: | Greaseball? Hör auf! |
| ELECTRA: | Pearl kriegst du nie! |
Control German Lyrics[]
| CONTROL: | Control! Control! |
| Die letzten Minuten des Countdown vor dem größten Rennen aller Zeiten hat begonnen! | |
| Die Weltmeisterschaft der Eisenbahnen mit Lokomotive aus allen Ländern! | |
| Hat jeder einen Partner? | |
| Dies ist die letzte Möglichkeit einen Partner zu wählen! |
Pearl's Twirl German Lyrics[]
| GREASEBALL: | Pearl, was sagst du dazu, wir beide, ich und du haben Rythmus. |
| PEARL: | Rhytmus? |
| GREASEBALL: | Spürst du's? |
| PEARL: | Ja! |
| GREASEBALL: | Komm mit! |
| PEARL: | Okay! Ich fahr gern' mit dir! |
| GREASEBALL: | Ich hab Rythmus! |
| DINAH: | Was du getan hast find ich sehr gemein! |
| Du hast doch einen Wagen warum muss es Greaseball sein? | |
| PEARL: | Dinah, du musst nicht traurig sein, |
| musst nicht weinen, nicht weinen! | |
| GREASEBALL: | I'm Pumping Iron! |
Hymn German Lyrics[]
| GREASEBALL: | Ich werde siegen, ich will den Sieg! | |
| COACHES/FREIGHT: | Ich komm ans Ziel, ich komm ans Ziel | |
| ENGINES: | Erde.. Wasser... | |
| Ich will heut siegen, ich will heut siegen | Luft... Feuer... | |
| Ich mache mit, ich mache mit | Sieh der Dampf, | |
| Ich werde siegen, bin der Favorit | steigt höher! | |
| Ich will den Sieg, ich will den Sieg, | Erde... Wasser... | |
| Ich will gewinnen, ich will gewinnen | Luft... Feuer... | |
| Ich werd der Sieger sein | Sieh den Dampf, | |
| Ich will gewinnen in diesem Spiel! | steigt höher! | |
| COACHES: | Wir wollen das Beste, | Kämpfen |
| FREIGHT: | Ich bin nicht der Letzte, | |
| COACHES: | Wer wagt , gewinnt | Siegen |
| FREIGHT: | Ich schaff es bestimmt | |
| Wir kommen in Fahrt, | Kämpfen | |
| COACHES: | Wir gehen an den Start! | |
| FREIGHT: | Stehen | Siegen |
| COACHES: | Kampf | |
| FREIGHT: | Voll | |
| COACHES: | Stark | |
| ALL: | Kämpfen, | |
| Siegen! | ||
| Ich werde siegen... | Ich will den Sieg. | |
| Ich werde siegen. | Ich will den Sieg. | |
| Ich werde siegen. | Ich will den Sieg. | |
| Ich werde siegen, | ||
| Ich will den Sieg, will den Sieg, will den Sieg, will den Sieg! | ||
| CONTROL: | Der Count-Down läuft! | |
| Beeil dich Dinah, du kommst zu spät zum Essen! |