Let's Have a Race is the fifth song from the fourth series dedicated to Thomas and Bertie's first race. It uses elements of Bertie's theme. It aired on the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, Paint the Town Red in 1996 in the US. A 30 second version of this song was seen in the premiere airing of Storytime with Thomas in 1999.
Lyrics
Original version
INTRO:
- A lesson that's worth learning
- One you never should forget
- Is the art of friendly rivalry
- It's not always about winning
- You must learn that from the start
- Enjoy yourself remember
- What counts is taking part
CHORUS:
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- On your marks, now get set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race
- (Instrumental break with children cheering in the background)
VERSE 1:
- Thomas challenged Bertie
- To a friendly race one day
- The driver said get ready
- But be careful on the way
- The friends lined up together
- Enjoying the fun
- The stationmaster called out
- "Are you ready to begin?"
CHORUS:
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- On your marks, now get set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race
- (Instrumental break with children cheering in the background again)
VERSE 2:
- Bertie Bus was winning
- He sped along the way
- Thomas tried so hard
- To catch up on the way
- Eventually he passed him
- And Bertie had to say
- To pass you on that hill, Thomas,
- I'd need wings like an aeroplane
CHORUS:
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- On your marks, now get set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race
CHORUS (in C# Major):
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- Ready, set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race
OUTRO:
- Let's have a race (2x)
- Right now.
Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales
- A lesson that's worth learning
- One you never should forget
- Is the art of friendly rivalry
- It's not always about winning
- You must learn that from the start
- Enjoy yourself remember
- What counts is taking part
CHORUS:
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- On your marks, now get set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race
- Thomas challenged Bertie
- To a friendly race one day
- The driver said get ready
- But be careful on the way
- The friends lined up together
- Enjoying the fun
- The stationmaster called out
- "Are you ready to begin?"
CHORUS:
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- On your marks, now get set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race
CHORUS:
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- Ready, set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race
- Let's have a race
- Let's have a race
- Right now.
StoryTime with Thomas
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race.
CHORUS:
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- Ready, set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can match me so
- Let's have a race, have a race.
10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Version
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- On your marks, now get set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can catch me so
- Let's have a race, have a race.
Best of James Intermission
- Let's have a race, have a race, have a race
- Let's see who is the quickest
- Who can be the fastest
- On your marks, now get set, go!
- Let's set a pace, set a pace, set a pace
- Let's see if you can catch me
- Let's see if you can catch me so
- Let's have a race, have a race.
Characters
Original version
Locations
Original version
- Tidmouth
- Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard
- Crovan's Gate
- Ben Glas
- Ffarquhar
- Road Beside Rail and Canal Runby
- Elsbridge
- Dryaw Goods Station
- Ulfstead
- Arlesdale Castle
- Black Loch
- Knapford
- The Wide-Arched Bridge
- The Buckled Tracks
- Terence's Field
- The Quarry Tramroad
- The Watermill
- Hackenbeck Tunnel
- Maron
- Rheneas Tunnel
Footage Used
Original version
- Thomas' Train
- Thomas and the Trucks
- Thomas and the Guard
- Thomas and Bertie
- Thomas, Percy and the Coal
- Bertie's Chase
- Percy's Promise
- Thomas Gets Bumped
- Trust Thomas
- Mavis
- Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party
- Oliver Owns Up
- Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
- Special Funnel
- Steam Roller
- Thomas and Stepney
- Train Stops Play
- Bowled Out
- Bulls Eyes
- Mind that Bike
Storytime with Thomas
Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Thomas and the Trucks - An extended ending of Thomas' view passing Elsbridge.
- Thomas and the Guard - A deleted scene shows Thomas stopping at a signal. Part of this scene has been reversed; this is evident when it is shown for the second time, as Thomas' steam goes back into him. Thomas is running on Toby's Old Tramway.
- Thomas and Bertie:
- A deleted scene shows Thomas head-to-head with Bertie while both pass a signal.
- An extended beginning of the traffic light changing.
- An extended ending of Bertie leaving the traffic light close-up.
- Percy's Promise - An extended ending of Thomas travelling through the seaside cliffs.
- Thomas Gets Bumped:
- An extended beginning of Thomas coming up to Ffarquhar where Bertie is waiting.
- The shot of Thomas chuffing before his derailment has been extended.
- A deleted scene of Thomas' driver applying the brakes before Thomas' derailment.
- When Thomas goes past a station, the shot has been extended.
- A deleted scene shows Bertie driving through a path while going past a lamp.
- A wide shot of the stationmaster on the platform.
- An extended beginning of Bertie driving past the railway lines.
- A deleted scene shows Bertie driving past a signal before arriving at Ffarquhar.
- An extended beginning of the final scene.
- Trust Thomas:
- An extended shot of Thomas following the camera after saying hello to the cows.
- An extended shot of Bertie driving on the rough road before he meets up with Thomas.
- Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party - An extended beginning of Trevor coming up to Edward.
- Oliver Owns Up - The opening shot of Duck and Oliver has been extended.
- Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure - An extended beginning of Bertie going down the hill.
- Steam Roller - Extended scenes of Sir Handel and George racing.
- Train Stops Play - An extended beginning of Caroline's view heading to the tunnel.
- Bowled Out - An extended beginning of the engines at Crovan's Gate.
- Mind That Bike - An extended beginning of Thomas and Bertie passing each other.
Trivia
- A version without subtitles is seen on the Entertainment to Grow Up With promotional US VHS. Surprisingly, the upload of this song on the official Thomas & Friends YouTube channel uses an image from this particular version of the song in the video's thumbnail, therefore implying that Mattel may possibly possess a copy of this VHS.
- The Norwegian version has a slightly different musical arrangement.
- Keiko Toda sang the Japanese version of the song.
- An instrumental version can be heard:
- On the Japanese VHS Let's Sing Thomas Songs Together Vol.3.
- In the UK and international dubs of the seventh series episode Three Cheers for Thomas.
- During the shot of Thomas passing through Elsbridge from the first series episode Thomas and the Trucks, the hand that can be briefly seen in the upper right-hand corner seems to have been digitally erased.
- This is the only song to be featured on the DVDs that contain the story, "A New Friend for Thomas".
Goofs
- Before the stop light changes, Thomas is seen stopped at the signal. This footage is rewound, as smoke is returning to Thomas.
- The lyrics say that Thomas challenged Bertie, but in the episode and originally story written by Wilbert Awdry, Bertie challenged Thomas.
- When Thomas passes through the Goods Station, the end of the set is visible and a hand can be seen flying through the air for a split second.
In Other Languages
| Language | Title |
|---|---|
| Japanese | きょうそうしようよ |
| Korean | 경주 해볼까 (DVD Acadamy) 달리기 시합이야 (Live Show/CD) |
| Latin American Spanish | Hagamos una Carrera |
| Norwegian | La oss ha et kappløp |
Home Media Releases
VHS tapes/DVDsUKUS
CAN
US/CAN DVD Packs
AUS
NZ
JPNNOR
KORLATAMCDs |
Song
Let's Have a Race - Music Video
