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The Rap: What Time Is It? It's Race Time!

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For other versions of this number, see The Rap (Disambiguation)

"The Rap: What Time Is It? It's Race Time?" is the song that started Act 2 of most productions of Starlight Express between 2003 and 2018. Written by American composer David Yazbek, it was intended as a contemporary replacement for earlier versions of "The Rap". It was used in the touring productions and in Germany until 2018.

Context[]

At the end of Act 1, Rusty is left to wonder alone whether he has the strength to take up Poppa's place in the race. After the interval, all the characters assemble to tell is that it is now "Race Time". The number is comprised of boasting and bickering between characters, as they decide who will race with who for the final. The 2012 UK / 2013 Asia Tour played on the "What Time is it?" lyrics to include visuals of clocks on the screens that made up the set.

For the 2003 US Tour, "The Rap" was updated from the previous, 1992 version which included some dated slang and solloquial language. David Yazbek updated many scenes of the show, but many of his alterations were reverted by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This number was one of the few of his work that continued to be used for the 2004-2008 UK Tour, the 2009 New Zealand Tour, and the 2012 UK Tour.

The German production introduced the Hip Hoppers in 2007 while they were still using the previous version of The Rap. The introduction to "Check It Out, Can You Believe This?" mentioned the Rockies by name, so the show adopted the introduction to "What Time Is It? It's Race Time!". In 2008, "What Time Is It? It's Race Time!" was fully translated into German and used in the German Production until the 2018 rewrites.

Gallery[]

Lyrics[]

The Rap is a complicated musical number, prominently led by the Hip Hoppers, but including all the principal characters arguing about who is racing with who for the final.


Original 2nd US Tour Lyrics[]

This version only ran for the first few months of the tour. Like a lot of the new and edited material from this tour, after it was changed it stuck and the new revised versions were what were then continually used. Greaseball mentioning "Shining Time Station" is a comical reference to Thomas the Tank Engine.

HOPPERS: What time is it? It's Race time!
What time is it? It's Race time!
What time is it? It's Race time!
CONTROL: It's race time, folks
HOPPER: He said -
HOPPERS: What time is it? It's Race time!
What time is it? It's Race time!
What time is it? It's Race time!
CONTROL: It's race time, folks
HOPPERS: So get down, and we'll pound the sound
'till your feet start stompin'
And your eyeballs twirl around
It's time for speed,
It's time for sparks,
It's time for shocks,
It's time to win!
Time for the hip hoppers to begin
To fill you in, so here we go (Hey yo!)
I got rocks in my box and rhymes in my head
I know it's time for bed
But there's something we gotta do,
Gotta race, gotta move
This is the place where we'll prove:
Who's the fastest, the dopest,
The meanest, the quickest
The phattest, the baddest on the rails?
Who's the fastest, the dopest,
The meanest, the quickest
The phattest, the baddest on the rails?
If he's faster, he wins!
If he's slower, he loses!
No excuses! If you fail, you fail!
You're just sorriest/sorry-ass,
But if you win, it's glorious,
You're victorious
CONTROL & HOPPERS: That's the story!
ALL: It's race time! What time is it?
It's race time! What time is it?
It's race time! What time is it?
ELECTRA (HOPPER): It's my time, folks!
I am electric, I am the winner!
I am the future, you, you're the past! (Say whaaat?)
Just look at me, I'm clean, I'm powerful, I'm beautiful,
And not to mention, I'm way too fast!
COMPONENTS: He's on a roll now, he's in control now!
Shock treatment, he's dynamo now!
ELECTRA: You fools, I've got the tools, I'm taking you to school,
I am the future, Electra rules!
GREASEBALL: What you are is a wimp
I'll pop you like a pimple -
It's simple -
You're a toy
And this ain't no game
Like Shining Time Station
It's major delays
You're in the big one
But you're just too lame
Me?
I'm a force!
Of a twenty-ton steel horse!
Just call me Super Train,
With diesel at the source!
I could go on of course,
But I don't wanna bore us,
So put your hands in the air,
Let's all sing the chorus!
ALL: What time is it? It's race time!
What time is it? It's race time!
What time is it? It's race time!
RUSTY: It's race time, man!
If I was in it,
And I could win it,
Pearl would be my girl in a minute!
CABOOSE: Rusty, you can do it,
There's nothing to it,
I'll race behind you,
I can help you through it!
GREASEBALL: Any car, would be proud to be hitched to this star!
RUSTY: Not Pearl!
DINAH: But Greaseball, what about--
GREASEBALL: You see, Pearl's got an itch
To be given a whirl by me!
ELECTRA: Boy, you're blind!
I'm gonna beat you!
With Pearl behind,
The girl is mine!
GREASEBALL: Make up your own mind, Pearl,
It's time to choose!
You wanna boil with the oil?
Or lose with the fuse?
(dance break)
HOPPERS: ??? the medal -
It's time to play
But don't panic -
Just listen to the steel horse kick
Maybe feel like rockin'
Never stoppin'
'Til you're droppin'
Hip hopper like a maniac -
On the track
A trainiac
Don't look back
Someone's right behind you
And he's gonna attack!
GREASEBALL & ELECTRA: I am the fastest, the dopest,
The meanest, the quickest
The phattest, the baddest on the rails!
I am the fastest, the dopest,
The meanest, the quickest
The phattest, the baddest on the rails!
ALL (GREASEBALL & ELECTRA): What time is it? (I am the fastest, the dopest,)
It's race time! (the meanest, the quickest,)
What time is it? (the phattest, the baddest,)
It's race time! (on the rails!)
What time is it? (I am the fastest, the dopest,)
It's race time! (the meanest, the quickest,)
It's race time, folks! (the phattest, the baddest, on the rails!)
ALL: HO!

Revised 2nd US Tour Lyrics[]

The revised version of the song is what went on to be used in other tours in the UK and Asia. This version changed the start and end point of the number. Greaseball and the Hoppers both lost a verse, one of which included the "Shining Time Station" reference.

HIP HOPPERS: Yo, yo, yo, we're back!
Put your hands in the air, put 'em side to side
Put your hands up! Put your hands up!
Put your hands in the air, like you don't care
Put your hands up! Put your hands up!
Put your hands in the air, put 'em side to side
I don't see no hands
Put your hands in the air, put 'em side to side
Put your hands up! Put your hands up!
What time is it? It's Race time!
What time is it? It's Race time!
What time is it? It's Race time!
CONTROL: It's race time, folks
HOPPERS: What time is it? It's Race time!
What time is it? It's Race time!
What time is it? It's Race time!
CONTROL: It's race time, folks
HOPPERS: So get down, and we'll pound the sound
'till your feet start stompin'
And your eyeballs twirl around
It's time for speed,
It's time for sparks,
It's time for shocks,
It's time to win!
Time for the hip hoppers to begin
To fill you in, so here we go (Hey yo!)
I got rocks in my box and rhymes in my head
I know it's time for bed
But there's something we gotta do,
Gotta race, gotta move
This is the place where we'll prove:
Who's the fastest, the dopest,
The meanest, the quickest
The phattest, the baddest on the rails?
Who's the fastest, the dopest,
The meanest, the quickest
The phattest, the baddest on the rails?
If he's faster, he wins!
If he's slower, he loses!
No excuses! If you fail, you fail!
You're just sorriest/sorry-ass,
But if you win, it's glorious,
You're victorious
CONTROL: That's the story!
ALL: It's race time! What time is it?
It's race time! What time is it?
It's race time! What time is it?
ELECTRA: It's my time, folks!
I am electric, I am the winner!
I am the future, you, you're the past!
Just look at me, I'm clean, I'm powerful, I'm beautiful,
And not to mention, I'm way too fast!
COMPONENTS: He's on a roll now, he's in control now!
Shock treatment, he's dynamo now!
ELECTRA: You fools, I've got the tools, I'm taking you to school,
I am the future, Electra rules!
GREASEBALL: Feel the force
Of a twenty-ton steel horse!
Just call me Super Train,
With diesel at the source!
I could go on of course,
But I don't wanna bore us,
So put your hands in the air,
Let's all sing the chorus!
ALL: What time is it? It's race time!
What time is it? It's race time!
What time is it? It's race time!
RUSTY: It's race time, man!
If I was in it,
And I could win it,
Pearl would be my girl in a minute!
CABOOSE: Rusty, you can do it,
There's nothing to it,
I'll race behind you,
I can help you through it!
RUSTY: Yeah!
GREASEBALL: Any car, would be proud to be hitched to this star!
RUSTY: Not Pearl!
DINAH: But Greaseball, what about--
GREASEBALL: You see, Pearl's got an itch
To be given a whirl by me!
ELECTRA: Boy, you're blind!
I'm gonna beat you!
With Pearl behind,
The girl is mine!
GREASEBALL: Make up your own mind, Pearl,
It's time to choose!
You wanna boil with the oil?
Or lose with the fuse?
(dance break)
GREASEBALL & ELECTRA: I am the fastest, the dopest,
The meanest, the quickest
The phattest, the baddest on the rails!
I am the fastest, the dopest,
The meanest, the quickest
The phattest, the baddest on the rails!
ALL (GREASEBALL & ELECTRA): What time is it? (I am the fastest, the dopest,)
It's race time! (the meanest, the quickest,)
What time is it? (the phattest, the baddest,)
It's race time! (on the rails!)
What time is it? (I am the fastest, the dopest,)
It's race time! (the meanest, the quickest,)
It's race time, folks! (the phattest, the baddest, on the rails!)
[HOPPERS]: What time is it? (I am the fastest, the dopest,) [It's time for speed!]
It's race time! (the meanest, the quickest,) [It's time for sparks!]
What time is it? (the phattest, the baddest,) [It's time for shocks!]
It's race time! (on the rails!) [It's time to win!]
What time is it? (I am the fastest, the dopest,) [It's time for speed!]
It's race time! (the meanest, the quickest,) [It's time for sparks!]
It's race time, folks! (the phattest, the baddest, on the rails!)
ALL: HO!

German Lyrics[]

Hip Hopper 1 has more parts to sing, as some of their lines are sung solo.

HOPPERS: Yo yo yo, what, sind wieder da!
Yeah yeah yeah, das ist fett. Aha.
Hey, check it out.
Wo sind eure Hände? Wo wo wo sind eure Hände?
What? Yeah. Wo wo wo sind eure Hände?
Reißt die Hände in die Höh, nach rechts, nach links.
Put your hands up, put your hands up.
Put your hands up, put your hands up.
Come on Party people (wo sind eure Hände?)
Get your hands up, get your hands up. (I don't see no hands.)
Get your hands up, get your hands up.
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
CONTROL: Das Rennen steigt!
ALL: Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Das Rennen steigt!
Jetzt staunt, denn der fette Sound
Geht euch in die Beine
Und macht jeden gut gelaunt.
Jetzt wird es schnell,
Jetzt wird es wild,
Jetzt wird es heiß,
Jetzt wird es krass,
Denn auf uns Hip Hopper ist Verlass,
Wir bringen Spaß und machen Show.
Ich hab' Reime im Kopf und Groove im Skelett,
Es ist zwar Zeit für's Bett,
Aber heute bleibt jeder wach!
Gebt nur Acht, wir sind hier
Und heute Nacht zeigen wir:
Wer ist der Schnellste, der Hellste,
Der Beste, der Fettste,
Der Geilste, der Coolste auf dem Gleis?
Wer ist der Schnellste, der Hellste,
Der Beste, der Fettste,
Der Geilste, der Coolste auf dem Gleis?
Nur der Schnellste gewinnt hier,
Das weiß jedes Kind hier.
Gleich beginnt hier wie der Wind der Sprint.
Wirdst du Sieger sein,
Wirst du ein Überflieger sein,
Erste Liga sein!
CONTROL: Darum geht es!
ALL: Zu Rennen!
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Was geht hier ab?
ELECTRA: Ich geh hier ab!
Ich bin elektrisch, ich bin der Sieger,
Ich bin die Zukunft, ihr seid ein Dreck!
Seht mich nur an: so blank, so meisterhaft und voller Kraft,
Damit fahr' ich euch allen weg!
COMPONENTS: Er ist der Schnellste, er ist der Hellste,
Leg' dich nicht mit ihm an, sonst fällst'e.
ELECTRA: Hör' zu du Penner, du,
Ich bin für dich zu cool, glaub mir, Alter.
COMPONENTS: Electra rules!
GREASEBALL: Hey, was geht?
Ich bin ein Kraftpaket.
Wenn ihr mich rennen seht,
Kriegt ihr den Superschock,
Ich bin die Superlok,
Ich lass' es heute knall'n
Und nehmt die Hände in die Höh'
Und singt mit uns all'n.
ALL: Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen!
RUSTY: Das Rennen - Mann!
Wär' ich da drinnen,
Könnt' ich gewinnen
Und ich würd' mit Pearl neu beginnen.
CABOOSE: Rusty, Mann, du schaffst das!
Weil du die Kraft hast,
Ich fahre mit dir
Und gemeinsam klappt das!
GREASEBALL: Jede Bahn wäre stolz, könnte sie mit mir fahr'n.
RUSTY: Nicht Pearl!
DINAH: Aber Greaseball?!
GREASEBALL: Gib es auf!
Pearl will die Smarten und Harten,
Da steht sie drauf!
ELECTRA: Quatsch doch nicht!
Ich hol' mir Pearl
Und besiege dich -
Pearl kriege ich!
GREASEBALL: Entscheide selber, Pearl,
Komm sag' es schon:
Willst du 'n Hit mit Sprit
Oder 'n Klon vom Strom?
(dance break)
ELECTRA & GREASEBALL: Ich bin der Schnellste, der Hellste,
Der Beste, der Fettste,
Der Geilste, der Coolste auf dem Gleis!
Ich bin der Schnellste, der Hellste,
Der Beste, der Fettste,
Der Geilste, der Coolste auf dem Gleis!
ALL (GREASEBALL & ELECTRA): Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen! (Ich bin der Schnellste, der Hellste,)
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen! (Der Beste, der Fettste,)
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen! (Der Geilste, der Coolste)
Das Rennen steigt! (Auf dem Gleis!)
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen! (Ich bin der Schnellste, der Hellste,)
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen! (Der Beste, der Fettste,)
Was geht hier ab? Das Rennen! (Der Geilste, der Coolste)
Das Rennen steigt! (Auf dem Gleis!)
ALL: HO!
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