Substitutiary Locomotion

"Substitutiary Locomotion" means "giving life to things without", and is also a song written by Robert and Richard Sherman for the 1971 Walt Disney musical film production Bedknobs and Broomsticks. It is sung by "Professor Emelius Browne" (played by David Tomlinson), "Eglantine" (played by Angela Lansbury), and the three children.

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

”

Literary Sources

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