Substitutiary Locomotion

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"Substitutiary Locomotion" is a song written by the Sherman Brothers for the 1971 Walt Disney musical film production Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which was sung by "Professor Emelius Browne" (played by David Tomlinson), "Eglantine Price" (played by Angela Lansbury), and the three children. The spell is composed of five magic words: "Treguna Mekoides Trecorum Satis Dee", which were engraved in the Star of Astoroth.

Symbolism[]

When the children, professor and Eglantine work together, as a family, they are able to conjure up the "spirit" (or Spirits) needed to save England.

Treguna Mekoides and Trecorum Satis Dee

Substitutiary locomotion
Mystic power that's far beyond the wildest notion
It's so weird, so feared, yet wonderful to see

Substitutiary locomotion come to me

The original complete lyrics of the song as written by the Sherman Brothers, included an intro and several more verses, but these were not included in the film. However they have been performed by several YouTubers.

Cosmic wizards of timeless times

Teach my tongue the transcendental rhymes
Help my mind to find the skill
Give my heart the fervent will
To summon...

Substitutiary locomotion
Mystic power that's far beyond the wildest notion
It's so weird, so feared, yet wonderful to see
Substitutiary locomotion come to me

I don't want locomotiary substitution
Or remote intransitory convolution
Only one precise solution is the key
Substitutiary locomotion it must be

Substitutiary locomotion
Can create a state of clamorous commotion
It's the spell to quell invasion from the sea
Substitutiary locomotion is the key

The key to guide the tide that's stronger than the ocean
I want substitutiary locomotion
It can cause the force to keep our country free
Substitutiary locomotion work for me!

Substitutiary locomotion
I want substitutiary locomotion
Very substitutiary is the key

Substitutiary locomotion come to me!^[1]

Literary Sources[]

• Sherman, Robert B. Walt's Time: from before to beyond. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.

References[]