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lyrics

Shaped for speed
strong on the wing
the sketches and designs were made,
frames were laid
by hand-picked men.
Working every hour they had
to build the fire
to make the engine;
looking to the road ahead
blows are struck
to forge the steel
so she can fly.

The road is clear
and words remain unsaid.
He walks the high wire
with the engines and men
of the line.
He sees love,
he sees hope,
he sees everything that they are;
the need to fly far.
He sees love.

Men as giants,
hammers falling,
the works’ own heartbeat.
Furnace stacks with black smoke rising
steal the clean air.

(here she comes)

Joe and Tommy on the plate
their caps are worn in racing style,
elbows jutting from the cab.

Working every hour they had
to build the fire
to drive the engine;
looking to the road ahead.

There was a lonely voice
and it spoke these words:
‘run hard as you like
for the engines and men
of the line’.
He sees love.
he sees hope,
he sees everything that they are;
the need to fly far.
He sees love.

Men as giants
feed the engine
build the fire from cold.
Coal and water
fire and steam
to drive the pistons home.

He sees love.

They ran south
working up the bank
past the upturned faces
of the platelayers.
She starts to take her wing,
she jumps to it like a living thing,
made for speed and in full cry
they gave her the road
and she holds to the line.
Church bells call a beat along the track
she burns with the substance of the land.

Racing through the circling lines
a rocket in blue at two miles a minute,
embers stream along her sides;
from this far away now,
she flies with them
into sky
into history
into legend
she flies…

credits

from English Electric (part two) hi​-​resolution audio, released March 4, 2013
Words and music by Greg Spawton
Brass arrangement by Dave Desmond
String arrangement by Dave Gregory


Rob Aubrey Bass pedals
Geraldine Berreen Violin
Dave Desmond Trombone
Nick D’Virgilio Drums
Megan Fisher Harp
Eleanor Gilchrist Violin
Ben Godfrey Cornet
Dave Gregory Electric guitar, E-bow guitars
David Longdon Lead and backing vocals
Danny Manners Piano, keyboards
Andy Poole Keyboards, backing vocals
Greg Spawton Bass, mandolin, Mellotron,
electric guitar, 12 string guitar,
backing vocals
John Storey Euphonium, trombone
Andy Tillison Organ, synthesiser
Abigail Trundle Cello
Jon Truscott Tuba
Teresa Whipple Viola

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'The standard-bearers of new UK prog' MOJO

Big Big Train have revisited the sound world of early Genesis and Yes and have managed to create music with great emotional clout’ THE TIMES

'They make beautiful, pastoral quintessentially English music: their name is Big Big Train”
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