Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
Register
Advertisement
Main Page

Let's Have a Race is a 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

Locations

Footage Used

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 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 traveling 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 breaks 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 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:
  • During the shot of Thomas passing through Elsbridge from Thomas and the Trucks, the hand that can be briefly seen in the upper right-hand corner seems to have been digitally erased.

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, 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/DVDs

UK

US

CAN

  • Sing-Along and Stories
  • Best of Thomas (DVD only)
  • Percy Takes the Plunge (DVD only)
US/CAN DVD Packs

AUS

NZ

  • Story and Song Collection

JPN

NOR

KOR

LATAM

CDs

Song


Advertisement