"No Comeback" was Electra's swan song for the first 4 years of the original London production.
Context[]
Humiliated and infuriated by losing the race, Electra swears he is leaving, never to return. To make sure there is no misunderstanding, he even says goodbye to the Nationals in their own languages.
History[]
"No Comeback" was performed for the first 4 years of the London production. It was excluded from the second production of Starlight Express, on Broadway, and all productions after that. In its place, Electra took part in "One Rock'n'Roll Too Many".
It was subsequently removed from the London production around 1988.
Despite the song being removed, a fragment of the melody – "Clear my track" – remains in the show in 4 places:
- In "Laughing Stock", sung by Electra and Pearl
- In the build-ups to Heats One and Two, added as part of the 30th anniversary revisions
- In the Downhill Final, as Electra and Components' music
- As of the 2018 version, the shortened Megamix replaces its AC/DC segment with a solo by Electra using the melody
Lyrics[]
Original London Lyrics[]
ELECTRA: | Clear my track you had your chance now |
I'll find another line, no comeback! | |
Losing's not my style so I can't show my face now | |
Find another place now, didn't win so I'll go | |
Don't try to persuade me, losing always wrecks it | |
This is my last exit - stand by to fade me! | |
No comeback this is the last time | |
We never meet again, no comeback | |
No comeback this is the last time | |
We never meet again, no comeback | |
No come, no come, no come, no come, | |
No comeback! No comeback! | |
No come, no come, no come, no come, | |
No comeback! No comeback! | |
Adieu, mon ami | |
Addio, mia carra | |
Auf Wiedersehen, meine liebe | |
Sayonara... | |
EAT MY DUST! | |
No comeback this is the last time | |
We never meet again, no comeback | |
No comeback this is the last time | |
We never meet again, no comeback! |
1985-1988 Outro (as heard in a 1988 London bootleg)[]
ELECTRA: | No comeback this is the last time |
We never meet again, no comeback | |
No comeback, this is the last time | |
We never meet again, | |
ENSEMBLE: | Don't come back! |