"One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" is a downtempo rock shuffle in Act 2 of Starlight Express. It comes immediately after the final race, in which Greaseball, Electra, and Caboose lose to Rusty and Dustin.
Context[]
During the final race, Greaseball and Electra spend more time fighting and cheating than racing, with Caboose between them causing chaos. All three get their payback when they crash just before reaching the finish line, giving victory to Rusty and Dustin. Rather than receive any congratulations, Rusty rushes away to find Pearl, who he left injured and alone mid-race.
The gathered ensemble are about to follow Rusty, when out from the tunnel rolls the mangled wrecks of Greaseball, Caboose, and Electra.
History[]
In the original London production, "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" was performed by Greaseball and Caboose, after Electra sings "No Comeback". However with the Broadway transfer cutting "No Comeback", Electra instead became the third performer in this number. In the later London show, Caboose was cut, so it was a duet between Electra and Greaseball, restoring the original two-person choreography.
All subsequent productions used the three-person version of the number, whether Caboose has been a major character or featured ensemble.
Generally this number is staged with the ensemble watching the once-proud antagonists getting their comeuppance. Some productions, however, have the ensemble leave before the number begins, then return at the end, so the characters are performing only for the audience.
The choreography for this number is rather slapstick, with the two/three wrecked racers pushing and pulling each other around, clearly annoyed with each other, and aching from their accident. Often there is a sense that as the song progresses, they get carried away, pushing too hard and then collapsing at the end of the number. Pyros have been used in this number, to give sparks coming from the crashed Caboose's back.
Some productions have used quick-change crash costumes for this number - essentially loose blankets made to resemble a jumbled selection of parts from the characters involved in the wreck. On close examination this is a very simple effect, but from the audience it is clear that we are seeing a mess of crashed parts. Electra may lose their wig, Caboose changes his hat to one that is damaged. The performers have only a few seconds between the end of the race and the start of this song so any costume changes must be very quick. Some productions omit the use of any extra costume pieces for this number.
Where's Rusty Gone?[]
"One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" is followed by a short section entitled "Where's Rusty Gone?", in which Poppa/Momma demands to know where Rusty has gone following the race.
Dustin tells Poppa/Momma that Rusty has gone looking for Pearl. The crashed trains are dragged to their feet to help find Pearl and Rusty.
In 2018 onwards, Poppa and Dustin were replaced by Coco saving Pearl, apparently angry at the fact the races seemed to be a conflict over who gets the first class car. Thus, she spread lies to Pearl, stating Rusty lost because of her (probably to fit the mid-section dialogue of "I Do" more).
| COCO: | Why did you ruin the race?! No wonder Rusty didn't win! |
Lyrics[]
Original London Lyrics[]
| BOTH (GREASEBALL & CABOOSE): | One Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| One night's sleep too few. | |
| Too much ringing that bell | |
| Takes its toll out of you. | |
| CABOOSE: | The sound's too loud. |
| The light's too bright. | |
| GREASEBALL: | My chains are too heavy and my shoes are too tight. |
| BOTH: | One Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| Takes its toll... out of you. | |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many, | |
| One more joint put out. | |
| One more twist of the wrist | |
| Makes you twist, | |
| Twist and shout. | |
| GREASEBALL: | My rug is cut. |
| My dig is dug. | |
| CABOOSE: | My grooves are too deep. |
| GREASEBALL: | And my frig is frug! |
| BOTH: | One Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| Takes it's toll... out of you. | |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many, | |
| I can't hear no more. | |
| GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| CABOOSE: | I can't hear nothing. |
| GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| CABOOSE: | I can't hear nothing. |
| GREASEBALL: | I can't hear nothing. |
| CABOOSE: | What did you say? |
| GREASEBALL: | I can't hear nothing |
| CABOOSE: | What did you say? |
| BOTH: | I said one Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes its toll... | |
| And the soul... | |
| Out of you! |
Revised London Lyrics[]
| BOTH (GREASEBALL & CABOOSE): | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| And you've got... no chance. | |
| (next two lines yet to be figured out) | |
| CABOOSE: | My breakdance is broken and my bumper have stopped. |
| GREASEBALL: | My mojo's not working |
| CABOOSE: | And my body's popped. |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many | |
| Takes it's toll... out of you. |
1987 Broadway Concept Album Lyrics[]
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| One night's sleep too few. |
| Too much ringing that bell |
| Takes its toll out of you. |
| The sound's too loud. |
| The light's too bright. |
| My chains are too heavy and my pants are too tight. |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| Takes its toll... out of you. |
| Oh, no, no |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| One more joint put out. |
| One more twist of the wrist |
| Makes you twist, |
| Twist and shout. |
| Too many storms |
| And lazerbeams |
| Got too many nightmares |
| And not enough dreams |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| Takes its toll... and the soul, yeah, out of you. |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| One night's sleep too few. |
| There's too much ringing of that bell |
| As it takes its toll out of you. |
| The sounds too loud. |
| The light's too bright. |
| My chains are too heavy and my pants are too tight. |
| Then one Rock 'n' Roll too many, |
| Takes its toll... |
| And your soul... |
| Out of you. |
| (riffing) |
| Could you please |
| Could you please turn down the lights? |
| Oh baby |
| Oh babe |
| Still one rock n' roll too one |
| I had one rock n' roll too many |
| Is it better now? |
| If I ask you to turn up the music |
| Say no |
| If I ask you to turn up the light |
| Say no, no, no |
| Say no, no, no |
| Say one rock n' roll too |
| One rock n' roll |
| Sounds too loud |
| No, no, no, no |
| No, no, no |
| Say hey, hey, hey |
| Sounds too loud for me |
| Didn't use to be that way, no |
| Didn't use to be that way |
| But you know if one rock n' roll too many |
| It's just one rock n' roll too many |
| No! |
Broadway Lyrics[]
| ALL (GREASEBALL, CABOOSE, AND ELECTRA): | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| One night's sleep too few. | |
| Too much ringing that bell | |
| Takes it's toll... out of you. | |
| CABOOSE: | The sounds too loud. |
| ELECTRA: | And the light's too bright. |
| GREASEBALL: | My chains are too heavy and my shoes are too tight. |
| ALL: | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes it's toll... out of you. | |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many | |
| One more joint put out. | |
| One more twist of the wrist | |
| Makes you twist | |
| Twist and shout. | |
| CABOOSE: | My breakdance is broken and my bumpers have stopped. |
| GREASEBALL: | My mojo isn't working. |
| ELECTRA: | And my body's popped! |
| ALL: | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes its toll... out of you. | |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many | |
| I can't hear no more. | |
| GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| CABOOSE: | I can't hear nothing. |
| ELECTRA: | What did you say? |
| CABOOSE: | I can't hear nothing. |
| ELECTRA: | I can't hear nothing! |
| CABOOSE: | What did you say? |
| GREASEBALL: | I can't hear nothing! |
| CABOOSE: | What did you say? |
| ALL: | I said one Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes its toll | |
| And the soul | |
| Out of you |
London Revival Lyrics[]
| BOTH (GREASEBALL & ELECTRA): | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| One night's sleep too few. | |
| Too much ringing that bell | |
| Takes it's toll... out of you. | |
| ELECTRA: | The sound's too loud |
| And the light's too bright | |
| GREASEBALL: | My chains are too heavy and my pants are too tight. |
| BOTH: | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes it's toll... out of you. | |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many | |
| One more... farewell show. | |
| Come on, clap your hands | |
| Are you having a good time? | |
| No! | |
| ELECTRA: | Well my rave's been rated |
| And my hip, just hopped. | |
| GREASEBALL: | My mojo ain't working |
| ELECTRA: | And my pill has just popped! |
| BOTH: | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes it's toll... out of you. | |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many | |
| I can't take no more | |
| GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| ELECTRA: | I can't hear nothing. |
| GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| ELECTRA: | I can't hear nothing! |
| GREASEBALL: | I can't hear nothing! |
| ELECTRA: | What did you say? |
| GREASEBALL: | I can't hear nothing! |
| ELECTRA: | What did you say? |
| BOTH: | I said one Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes its toll | |
| And the soul | |
| Out of you. |
Japan/Australia Tour Lyrics[]
| ALL (GREASEBALL, CABOOSE, & ELECTRA): | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| One night's sleep too few | |
| Too much ringing that bell | |
| Takes its toll, out of you. | |
| CABOOSE: | The sound's too loud. |
| ELECTRA: | And the light's too bright. |
| GREASEBALL: | My chains are too heavy, and my pants are too tight. |
| ALL: | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes its toll... out of you. | |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many | |
| One more farewell show | |
| Come on clap your hands. | |
| CABOOSE: | Are you having a good time? |
| GREASEBALL & ELECTRA: | No! |
| CABOOSE: | My breakdance is broken! |
| My hip has hopped! | |
| GREASEBALL: | My mojo ain't working! |
| ELECTRA: | And my pill has just popped! |
| ALL: | One Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes its toll... out of you! | |
| One Rock 'n' Roll too many | |
| I can't hear no more! | |
| GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| CABOOSE: | I can't hear nothing. |
| GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| ELECTRA: | I can't hear nothing! |
| GREASEBALL: | I can't hear nothing! |
| ELECTRA: | What did you say? |
| GREASEBALL: | I can't hear nothing! |
| CABOOSE: | What did you say? |
| ALL: | I said one Rock 'n' Roll too many |
| Takes its toll, | |
| And the soul, | |
| Out of you. |
Where's Rusty Gone?[]
| POPPA: | Where's Rusty gone? Where's Rusty gone? |
| DUSTIN: | Looking for Pearl |
| POPPA: | What happened to Pearl? |
| ALL: | What happened to Pearl? |
| POPPA (to the the crashed engines): | You'll show us, if it takes you all night! |
1997 Mexico + Translation[]
Por ir a las carreras (Because I went to the race)[1]
| TODOS (Spanish): | Por ir a las carreras | ALL (English): | Because I went in the race |
| No quede muy bien | I am not well | ||
| Por andar de bocón | Because I was a boaster | ||
| Me llevó el tren | The train took me | ||
| CABÚS: | Que ruido hay | CABOOSE: | How noisy it is |
| ELECTRA: | Hay mucha luz | ELECTRA: | There's lots of light |
| TURBO: | Estoy despeinado y me duele el cabús | GREASEBALL: | I'm a mess and my head hurts |
| Me duele el cabús | My head hurts | ||
| TODOS: | Por ir a las carreras | ALL: | Because I went in the races |
| Me llevó el tren | The train took me | ||
| Por ir a las carreras | Because I went in the races | ||
| Otro gran final | Another grand finale | ||
| Hay que aplaudir | You have to applaud | ||
| CABÚS: | ¿Se divierten muchachos? | CABOOSE: | Are we having fun, guys? |
| ELECTRA & TURBO: | ¡NO! | ELECTRA & GREASEBALL: | NO! |
| ELECTRA: | Mi pobre cadera se disloco | ELECTRA: | My poor hip's dislocated |
| TURBO: | Falló san Cristóbal | GREASEBALL: | St. Christopher failed |
| CABÚS: | Y el gas me explotó | CABOOSE: | And the gas exploded in me |
| TODOS: | Por ir a las carreras | ALL: | Because I went in the races |
| Me llevó el tren | The train took me | ||
| Por ir a las carreras | Because I went in the races | ||
| Ya no aguanto más | I can't take it anymore | ||
| TURBO: | ¿qué dijiste? | GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| CABÚS: | No oigo nada | CABOOSE: | I can't hear anything |
| ELECTRA: | ¿qué dijiste? | ELECTRA: | What did you say? |
| CABÚS: | No oigo nada | CABOOSE: | I can't hear anything |
| ELECTRA: | No oigo nada | ELECTRA: | I can't hear anything |
| CABÚS: | ¿qué dijiste? | CABOOSE: | What did you say? |
| ELECTRA: | Que ya no oigo nada | ELECTRA: | That I can't hear anything |
| TURBO: | ¿qué dijiste? | GREASEBALL: | What did you say? |
| TODOS: | ¡Dije! | ALL: | I said |
| Por ir a las carreras | Because I went in the races | ||
| Me llevó | I was taken | ||
| Me cagó el tren | Away by the train |
¿Y Ferro que?, ¿En donde está?[]
| EL JEFE: | ¿Y Ferro que?, | POPPA: | And what happened to Rusty? |
| ¿En donde está? | Where did he go? | ||
| TIZNE: | Con Perla está | DUSTIN: | He's with Pearl |
| EL JEFE: | ¿Y que les pasó? | POPPA: | And what happened to her? |
| ¿Y que les pasó? | What happened to her? | ||
| ¿Y que les pasó? | What happened to her? | ||
| Tenemos que saber | We have to know | ||
| Donde están. | Where they are |
1988 German Lyrics[]
| ALL: | Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel |
| Und zu wenig Schlaf, | |
| Zu viel Sprit auf die Tour | |
| Macht mich total kaputt. | |
| CABOOSE: | Es ist zu laut! |
| ELECTRA: | Und viel zu hell! |
| GREASEBALL: | Mein Körper ist müde, |
| Alles geht mir zu schnell! | |
| BOTH: | Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel |
| Macht mich total kaputt. | |
| Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel | |
| Nimmt dir jede Chance. | |
| Eine Kurve zu viel | |
| Und du bist in Trance. | |
| CABOOSE: | Ich kann mich nicht halten, |
| Denn ich bin blockiert! | |
| GREASEBALL: | Mein Motor hat ne Panne, |
| ELECTRA: | Bin electrifiziert! |
| ALL: | Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel |
| Macht mich total kaputt. | |
| Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel, | |
| Ich kann nichts mehr hör'n. | |
| GREASEBALL: | Was sagst du? |
| CABOOSE: | Ich kann nichts hören! |
| ELECTRA: | Was sagst du? |
| CABOOSE: | Ich kann nichts hören! |
| GREASEBALL: | Ich kann nichts hören! |
| CABOOSE: | Was sagst du? |
| ELECTRA: | Ich kann nichts hören! |
| GREASEBALL: | Was sagst du? |
| ALL: | Ich sag': ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel |
| Macht mich toooo- | |
| Macht mich toooo- | |
| tal kaputt! |
2018 German Lyrics[]
| ALL: | Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel |
| Und zu wenig Schlaf, | |
| Zu viel Sprit auf die Tour | |
| Macht mich total kaputt. | |
| CABOOSE: | Es ist zu laut! |
| ELECTRA: | Und viel zu hell! |
| GREASEBALL: | Mein Körper ist müde, |
| Alles geht mir zu schnell! | |
| ALL: | Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel |
| Macht mich total kaputt. | |
| Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel, | |
| Das haut richtig rein. | |
| Na los klatscht alle mit! | |
| CABOOSE: | Geht’s euch allen gut hier? |
| GREASEBALL & ELECTRA: | Nein! |
| ELECTRA: | Ich hab einen Kurzschluss, |
| Mein Kabel brennt. | |
| GREASEBALL: | Mein Diesel ist giftig |
| CABOOSE: | Meine Achse klemmt |
| ALL: | Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel |
| Macht mich total kaputt. | |
| Ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel, | |
| Ich kann nichts mehr hör'n. | |
| GREASEBALL: | Was sagst du? |
| CABOOSE: | Ich kann nichts hören! |
| ELECTRA: | Was sagst du? |
| CABOOSE: | Ich kann nichts hören! |
| GREASEBALL: | Ich kann nichts hören! |
| CABOOSE: | Was sagst du? |
| ELECTRA: | Ich sag ich kann nichts hören! |
| GRREASEBALL: | Was sagst du? |
| ALL: | Ich sag': ein Rock'n'Roll zu viel |
| Macht mich toooo- | |
| Macht mich toooo- | |
| tal kaputt! |
Rusty is weg! 1988 German Lyrics[]
| CONTROL: | Control, Control. |
| Rusty, sofort melden. | |
| Rusty, sofort melden, | |
| Oder die Ehrenrunde wird gestrichen! | |
| POPPA: | Rusty ist weg! |
| ALL: | Rusty ist weg! |
| DUSTIN: | Er sucht nach Pearl. |
| POPPA: | Was ist denn mit Pearl? |
| ALL: | Was ist denn mit Pearl? |
| POPPA: | Wir finden sie gewiss heute Nacht. |
Rusty is weg! 2018 German Lyrics[]
| CONTROL: | Control, Control. |
| Rusty, sofort melden. | |
| Rusty, sofort melden, | |
| Oder die Ehrenrunde wird gestrichen! | |
| COCO (to PEARL): | Du spielst immer nur Spielchen. |
| Sogar Rusty hat was besseres verdient als dich! |
In 2024 Coco's line was given to Belle.
Gallery[]
Covers[]
In 2008, American Idol contestant Syesha Mercado covered "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" as part of an episode with the theme of "Andrew Lloyd Webber". Her performance placed her in the bottom 2 for the week. Mercado reprised the song in the 6abc IKEA Thanksgiving Day Parade on the Philadelphia Phillies (who won the World Series that year), on a green train with people in it (waving banners or clapping to the music) and the team mascot "The Phillie Phanatic".