Little Eva - Locomotion Lyrics

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who wrote the song 'Locomotion' and what inspired its creation?

   The song 'Locomotion' was written by the husband-and-wife songwriting team Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The inspiration for the song came when Goffin noticed their babysitter, Eva Boyd, dancing with their daughter to a tune that King had composed, which sounded like a locomotive's rhythm.

2. Why did Little Eva end up recording 'Locomotion'?

   'Locomotion' was initially intended for Dee Dee Sharp, but she turned it down. The demo version was sung by Little Eva (Eva Boyd), who was Carole King and Gerry Goffin's babysitter. Impressed by her vocal performance on the demo, music producer Don Kirshner decided to release it under her stage name.

3. What is unique about 'Locomotion' in terms of chart success?

   'Locomotion' is notable for being one of only nine songs to have reached No. 1 on the US Billboard charts by two different artists at different times. Little Eva first made it a hit in 1962, and then Grand Funk Railroad topped the charts with their version in 1974.

4. How did Little Eva contribute to popularizing 'The Loco-Motion' dance?

   Although the song preceded the dance, there was no specific dance associated with it initially. When 'The Loco-Motion' became popular, Little Eva created a dance to go along with it during her performances. This dance imitated locomotive movements and contributed significantly to the song's enduring appeal.

5. What were some challenges faced by Little Eva after her initial success with 'The Loco-Motion'?

   Despite her early success, Little Eva was typecast as a dance-craze singer and received limited material thereafter. She struggled financially and returned to North Carolina in 1971 where she lived in obscurity until being rediscovered in 1987 due to renewed interest in her music.