☝️ Key Points
- The song is about self-confidence, courage, and the pursuit of dreams regardless of others' opinions.
- Rusty, the main character of the song, shows his determination and self-assurance through his actions and words.
- The coaches consider Rusty to be crazy, but they are drawn to his self-assurance and ambition.
- Pearl, one of the coaches, advises Rusty to be cautious, but he ignores her advice.
- The song ends with Rusty's willingness to increase the pressure and his confidence in his own success.
Interpretation
The song 'Crazy' from the musical
Starlight Express is a dialogue between the character Rusty and the Coaches (train carriages). Rusty is a young and inexperienced steam train who has the ability to go very fast. The song expresses his determination and self-confidence, despite the doubts and criticism he receives from others.
Rusty says: 'Where I go the rest better follow, Look to everybody, move aside. May go now or may go tomorrow, Hold on, I'll take you for a ride.' He is ready to pave his own way and challenges the others to either follow him or step aside.
The Coaches repeat the chorus over and over again: 'Crazy- can you believe him? He's crazy- love him or leave him. He's crazy- goin' crazy, goin' crazy.' They think Rusty is crazy, but they can't deny that there is something appealing about his confidence and ambition.
Pearl, one of the Coaches, advises Rusty to slow down ('Take it slowly what ya got to prove?'), but Rusty is determined to prove his abilities ('Ride with me, you'll know you've been riding. No-one can move the way I move').
In the end, Rusty emphasizes that he is ready to increase the pressure ('Hold on tight, I'll turn up the pressure, Must be right, no way it can be wrong. You and me go steamin' together'). He is convinced that he will succeed and invites the others to join him on this journey.
Overall, the song is about self-confidence, courage, and the willingness to take risks to pursue one's dreams, even if others think you're crazy.