"The Polar Express" is a song from the film of the same name. It is performed by Tom Hanks, in character as the Conductor, with a chorus of children as background singers.
The children onboard the Polar Express can be heard singing the song, not in a musical number, when Hero Boy first gets on the train. The musical version plays when the train arrives at the North Pole, though without Tom Hanks' vocals. During the credits after "Believe", "The Polar Express" is heard again as the first in a medley of the film's songs, this time with Tom Hanks. The full version, also featuring Hanks, is featured on the film's official soundtrack as the first track.
In the song, the Conductor and the children sing about what happens when one rides on the Polar Express.
Lyrics[]
- Conductor: (All aboard! All aboard!
- Tickets, please, tickets!
- Well, you coming?)
- Children: It’s a magic carpet on a rail
- Conductor and Children: Never takes a rest
- Children (Conductor): Flying through the mountains and the snow
- Ride for free and join the fun (You can ride for free!)
- Children: If you just say yes!
- 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the Polar Express
- Conductor: (You bet!)
- Children: Woo, woo, the whistle blows
- That’s the sound of her singing
- Ding, ding, the bell will ring
- Conductor and Children: Golly look at her go!
- Children: You wonder if you’ll get there soon
- Anybody’s guess
- Conductor and Children: 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the Polar Express
- Children (Conductor): When we get there, we’ll scream, “Yes!” (Yeah)
- We’ll arrive with a
- Conductor and Children: Bang, bang, bang
- Children: Boom, boom, boom
- Laughing all the way!
- Conductor: It’s a choo choo with a stunning view
- That rivals all the best
- But you won’t ever see it advertised
- It’s a simple fact, we stay on track
- Though sometimes we digress
- But that can only happen on the Polar Express
- Children: Hiss, hiss, the steaming mist
- Conductor and Children: That’s the sound of her breathing
- Children: Clang, clang, the boiler bangs
- What a wonderful show!
- With a comfy seat
- Conductor and Children: And lots to eat
- Children: Boy is this the best!
- Wish it wouldn’t ever have to end
- Conductor and Children: With a little luck we’ll be on time
- Children: There’s no need to stress
- Conductor and Children: 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the Polar Express
- Conductor: Lights are gleaming far across the snow
- You’re not dreaming
- May I present the North Pole!
- If it’s penguins you expect to view
- You surely haven’t guessed
- They all live down at the other end
- Conductor and Children: With a little luck we’ll be on time
- There’s no need to stress
- 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the Polar Express
- Children: Woo, woo, the whistle blows
- Conductor and Children: That’s the sound of her singing
- Children: Ding, ding, the bell will ring
- Golly look at her go!
- If you want to join us, come along
- Conductor: I’ll check my manifest
- Children: 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the Polar Express
- (instrumental break)
- Children (Conductor): When we get there, we’ll scream “Yes!” (Yeah)
- Children: We’ll arrive with a
- Conductor and Children: Bang, bang, bang
- Children: Boom, boom, boom
- Laughing all the way
- If you want to join us, come along
- Conductor and Children: You can be our guest
- Children: 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the
- Conductor and Children: Roller...
- Coaster...
- The Polar... Express!
- Conductor: (Next stop, One Hundred and Thirteen Forty-Four
Edbrooke Avenue - Next stop, One Hundred and Thirteen Forty-Four
- Edbrooke Avenue
- Ahh ahh ahh, that is not a toy, young man
- Young man, that is not a toy
- Take your seats, please
- Take your seats.)
- Woo, woo, the whistle blows
- That’s the sound of her singing
- Ding, ding, the bell will ring
- Golly look at her go!
- You wonder if you’ll get there soon
- Anybody’s guess
- 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the Polar Express
- When we get there, we’ll scream “Yay!”
- We’ll arrive with a
- Bang, bang, bang
- Boom, boom, boom
- Laughing all the way!
- (instrumental)
- Conductor: (We made it! With five minutes to spare! We made it! Ha, ha!)
- Children: It’s a magic carpet on a rail
- Conductor and Children: Never takes a rest
- Children (Conductor): Flying through the mountains and the snow
- Ride for free and join the fun (You can ride for free!)
- Children: If you just say yes!
- 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the Polar Express
- Conductor: (You bet!)
- Children (Conductor): When we get there, we’ll scream “Yes!” (Yeah)
- Children: We’ll arrive with a
- Conductor and Children: Bang, bang, bang
- Children: Boom, boom, boom
- Laughing all the way
- If you want to join us, come along
- Conductor and Children: You can be our guest
- Children: 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the
- Conductor and Children: Roller...
- Coaster...
- The Polar... Express!
- Children: It’s a magic carpet on a rail
- Conductor and Children: Never takes a rest
- Children (Conductor): Flying through the mountains and the snow
- Ride for free and join the fun (You can ride for free!)
- Children: If you just say yes!
- 'Cause that’s the way things happen
- On the
- Conductor and Children: Roller...
- Coaster...
- The Polar... Express!
Trivia[]
- The song can be heard in as an instrumental throughout the film as part of its score.
- The line, "Laughing all the way" is from "Jingle Bells."
- This is one of two songs from the film performed by Tom Hanks, both times in character as the Conductor, with the other being "Hot Chocolate".