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"Starlight Express" is the final song of Act 1 of Starlight Express.

Rusty expresses his doubt in the Starlight Express – the god-like force that inspires Poppa – while imploring the Starlight to reveal itself and inspire him to victory.

History[]

A version of "Starlight Express" has been sung in every production of the show, starting with the original London production.

The Broadway production replaced the verse with different lyrics, and a melody recycled from the Act-2 song, "Only You". It also cut a bridge between the London version's verse and chorus, and introduced a rousing middle-8. This version became the template for the Bochum production.

The London production, however, retained its original verse melody until the production closed, although it removed the bridge and added the new middle-8. This version was used for other English-language productions until 2017, when the New York and Bochum versions became the standard.

Music[]

The "Starlight Express" motif is introduced during the overture by Control's mother, who sings it as a lullaby. It is also sung by Poppa (and Belle) to encourage Rusty to step up and race. The melody becomes more significant as a victory theme in Act 2.

The original London recording cuts from the Starlight Express intro to the song, omitting 2 races and "Laughing Stock".

Lyrics[]

Original London Lyrics[]

RUSTY: When you good nights have been said
And you are lying in bed
With the covers pulled up tight
And though you count every sheep
You get the feeling that sleep
Is going to stay away tonight.
That's when you hear it coming
That is when you hear the humming of the
Midnight train, here again,
Can't explain that midnight train,
That midnight train!
Starlight Express, you must confess,
Are you real, yes or no?
Starlight Express, answer me yes.
I don't want you to go.
Want you to take me away
But bring me back before daylight
And in the time between
Take me to everywhere
But don't abandon me there
Just want to say I've been.
I believe in you completely
Though I may be dreaming sweetly
I can hear the train, here again.
Can't explain that midnight train,
That midnight train!
Starlight Express, you must confess,
Are you real, yes or no?
Starlight Express, answer me yes
I don't want you to go
Starlight Express, answer me yes
I don't want you to go
Starlight Express, you must confess,
Are you real, yes or no?
Starlight Express, answer me yes
I don't want you to go.

1987 Broadway Concept Album Lyrics[]

RUSTY: When the night is darkest, open up your mind
Dream begins, it's becoming clearer,
Listen to the distance, listen and you'll find
The midnight train is getting nearer
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? Yes or no?
Starlight Express, answer me yes
I don't want you to go
Take me to the places I have never been
Bring me home safely before I wake up
'Cause I believe in you completely though you may be unseen
This is not the kind of thing that anyone could make up
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? Yes or no?
Starlight Express, please answer me yes
I don't want you to go
You need a bigger world to help you
If you draw on what is deep inside
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? Yes or no?
Starlight Express, please answer me yes
I don't want you to go
My Starlight Express, please answer me yes
I don't want you to go

Broadway Lyrics[]

RUSTY: When the night is darkest, open up your mind
What can you see? Is it getting clearer
Listen to the distance, listen and you'll find
The midnight train is getting nearer
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? Yes or no?
Starlight Express, answer me yes
I don't want you to go
Show me all the places I have never seen
But bring me home safely before I wake up
I don't want to stay there, just to say I've been
Take me with you through the night, but get me back before daylight
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? Yes or no?
Starlight Express, please answer me yes
I don't want you to go
And if you're there, and if you know,
Then show me which way I must go?
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? Yes or no?
Starlight Express, please answer me yes
I don't want you to go
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Are you real, are you near?
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
I need you to be here!

1987 Japan/Australia Tour Programme Translation[]

The translation of the song lyrics featured in the 1987 programme. These lyrics were NOT what were sung live during the tour, which was sung in English.

ラスティ (Japanese): 暗い夜に心を開けば RUSTY (English): If you open your heart on a dark night
何が見える? ハッキリわかるかい? What can you see? Do you see it clearly?
耳を澄ませば - 遠く聞こえる If you listen carefully, you can hear it in the distance
夜行列車が近ずいてくる The night train is approaching
スターライトエクスプレス Starlight Express
キミは現実? それとも... Are you real? Or...
スターライトエクスプレス、応えておくれ Starlight Express, answer me
そのまま去って行かないで Don't just go away
行ったことのない土地を見せておくれ Show me a place I've never been
そして目が覚める前に安全に連れ戻しておくれ And bring me back safely before I wake up
そのまま居たくはないんだ I don't want to stay there
みんなに自慢したいのさ、連れてっておくれ I want to show off, take me with you,
でも夜明けまでには連れ戻しておくれ But bring me back before dawn
スターライトエクスプレス Starlight Express
キミは現実? それとも... Are you real? Or...
スターライトエクスプレス、応えておくれ Starlight Express, answer me
そのまま去って行かないで Don't just go away
そこにいるなら、知ってるのなら If you're there, if you know
どっちに行ったらいいか教えておくれ Tell me which way I should go.
スターライトエクスプレス Starlight Express
キミは現実? それとも... Are you real? Or...
スターライトエクスプレス、応えておくれ Starlight Express, answer me
そのまま去って行かないで Don't just go away
スターライトエクスプレス Starlight Express
キミは現実なの? Are you real?
スターライトエクスプレス Starlight Express
ここに来ておくれ Come here

1997 Mexico + Translation[]

Despite the 1997 Mexico Production of Starlight Express[1] Cast Recording was unable to release due to complications with the rights, audio of some songs from the live show have been recorded and made available via compartiendoaudios on YouTube.

FERRO (Spanish): Me acuesto y quiero soñar RUSTY (English): I go to sleep and want to dream
Mas veo el cielo brillar More then to see the bright sky
Y comienzo a sentir And I begin to feel
Que esa inmensa quietud That immense silence
Me da una extraña inquietud I get a strange uneasiness
Que no me dejará dormir That sleep is not going to come to me
Es entonces cuando creo That is when I think
Que escucho el ronroneo del... That I hear the humming of the
Expreso astral, tren celestial Starlight Express, celestial train
Por favor, ¿dónde estás? Please, where are you?
Di si o no, di que eres real Say yes or no, say you are real
Y no te vayas más. And don't go any more
Si me pudieras llevar If you can carry me
A donde nadie a ido To where no one leaves
Iría tras de ti I will go behind you
Y luego quiero volver And later I want to return
Después del amanecer After dawn
Y por fin decir: And finally say:
¡Ya fui! I've been!
Creo en ti con mucho empeño I believe in you persistently
Aunque puede ser que sueño, con él... Although it could be that I'm dreaming of the
Expreso astral, tren celestial Starlight Express, Celestial train
Por favor, ¿dónde estás? Please, where are you?
Di si o no, di que eres real Say yes or no, say you are real
Y no te vayas más. And don't go any more
Si estás ahí, te puedo oír If you're there, I can hear you
Tan solo dime dónde ir Then only tell me where to go
Expreso astral, tren celestial Starlight Express, Celestial train
Por favor, ¿dónde estás? Please, where are you?
Di si o no, di que eres real Say yes or no, say you are real
Y no te vayas más And don't go any more
Expreso astral Tren celestial Starlight Express, Celestial train
Y si estás por aquí And say you're here
Expreso astral Di que eres real Starlight Express, say you are real
Ven pronto hacia mí. Come quickly to me
Starlight_Express_-_Ricardo_Villarreal_Audio-0

Starlight Express - Ricardo Villarreal Audio-0

German Lyrics[]

RUSTY: Wird es um mich dunkel, wird es in mir still
Seh' ich ein Licht leuten in der Ferne.
Und hör' ich den Nachtzug, der mich holen will,
Dann folge ich dem Zug der Sterne.
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Wo bist du? Sag' es mir.
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Ich brauche dich jetzt und wünsch' mit, du wärst hier.
Nimm mich mit und zeig' mir, was ich noch nie sah,
Bring' mich zurück, ich will dort nicht bleiben
Und wenn ich erwache, weiß ich, du warst da,
Ich gehe mit dir durch die Nacht, komm' wieder, eh' der Tag erwacht!
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Wo bist du? Sag' es mir!
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Ich brauche dich jetzt und wünsch' mir, du wärst hier.
Wenn es dich gibt, dann zeige mir den Weg,
Damit ich nicht verlier',
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Wo bist du? Holst du mich?
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Du weißt, ich brauche dich.
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Wo bist du? Sag' es mir.
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Ich bitt' dich komm' zu mir.

Revised German Lyrics[]

RUSTY: Der Mond wirft Schatten auf's Dach,
Du liegst im Bett und bist wach,
Endlos langsam fließt die Zeit.
Du zählst das hundertste Schaf,
Doch findest nicht in den Schlaf
Und starrst nur in die Dunkelheit.
Dann fühlst du ihn erscheinen,
Den du schon so oft sahst in deinen Träumen:
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Wo bist du? Sag' es mir.
Starlight Express, ich brauche dich jetzt.
Und wünsch' mir, du wärst hier.
Trag mich ins Weltall hinaus,
Doch bring' mich wieder nach Hause
Bevor der Tag erwacht.
Flieg' mit mir himmelweit fort,
Aber verlass' mich nicht dort,
Bleib bei mir in der Nacht!
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Wo bist du? Sag' es mir.
Starlight Express, ich brauche dich jetzt.
Und wünsch' mir, du wärst hier.
Wenn es dich gibt, dann zeige mir den Weg,
Damit ich nicht verlier'!
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Wo bist du? Holst du mich?
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Du weißt, ich brauche dich.
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Wo bist du? Sag' es mir.
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Ich bitt' dich komm' zu mir.

2017 London Workshop Lyrics[]

RUSTY: Listening in the darkness, waiting for a sign
I hope, I think, but I can’t be certain
Hoping for a signal, hoping down the line
Someone somewhere draws back the curtain
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? I wish I knew
Starlight Express, answer me yes
I need you to be true
Take me to the places I have never been
Bring me home safely before I wake up
Help me to believe in all I’ve never seen
This is not the kind of thing that anyone could make up
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? Yes or no?
Starlight Express, answer me yes
I don’t want you to go
And if you’re there and if you know
Then show me which way I should go
Starlight Express, Starlight Express
Are you real? Yes or no?
Starlight Express, answer me yes
I don’t want you to go
Starlight Express, Starlight Express,
Are you real? Are you near?
Starlight Express, answer me yes 
I need you to be here.

Boyband Lyrics[]

For the German show's 15th Anniversary, the current Rusty and his understudies formed a "Rusty boyband" and released a pop arrangement of the title song.

Starlight_Express_(Boy_Band_Version)

Starlight Express (Boy Band Version)

Audio - Starlight Express Boyband version.

Videos[]

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