On A Slow Boat To China
Bette Midler (Duet With Barry Manilow) Lyrics
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Thank you, Miss M
Whatcha doin' these days?
Makin' records
Really?
Yes, really
Do you still play piano for people?
Hmm, I'm gonna get you
On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone
Get you and keep you
In my arms evermore
Leave all the others
Waitin' on a faraway shore
Out on the briny
Where the moon's
Big and shiny
Meltin' your heart of stone
I'm gonna get you
On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone
Bette, I didn't know
You felt that way about me
I don't, I need a piano player
Ah, just like the old days
You're not gonna change keys
On me are yah? Uh huh, oh
I'm gonna get you
(You're never gonna get me)
On a slow boat to China
(Not in a fast or slow boat at any crick)
All to myself alone
(I just get motion sick)
I'm gonna make you mine
(Ha, you'll have to stand in line)
Get you and keep you
In my band evermore
(Now there's a new attack)
Leave all the others on the shore
(For me they'd swim to China)
(To China and back)
Out on the briny
(I wouldn't like the ocean)
Where the moon's big and shiny
(Not even in a rowboat)
Melting your heart of stone
Come on what do yah say?
(You always get your way)
I'm gonna get you
On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone, together
All to myself alone
The lyrics to "On A Slow Boat To China" by Bette Midler (Duet With Barry Manilow) are a playful exchange between two friends who have history performing music together. While teasing him about his piano playing skills, Bette suggests that she wants to spend some alone time with Barry on a slow boat to China. She imagines a romantic scenario where Barry is hers alone, leaving all the others behind on a faraway shore. She complements that picture with evocative descriptions of the ocean atmosphere, with the moon big and shiny and her desire to melt his heart of stone.
The lyrics are loaded with a lot of humor and playful banter, which could be interpreted as the work of two seasoned performers who are poking fun at their selves and the music industry. Bette uses the lyrics to playfully flirt with Barry, reminiscing on the old days when they shared the stage together. While jokingly teasing him that he will always do what she wants, it is evident that the two are still musically in sync even though they have taken different paths.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, nice piano playin', Manilla
Bette compliments Barry's piano playing skills and greets him.
Thank you, Miss M
Barry thanks Bette for the compliment and acknowledges her.
Whatcha doin' these days?
Bette asks Barry what he's up to lately.
Makin' records
Barry says that he's making records at the moment.
Really?
Bette confirms with Barry whether he's serious about making records at the moment.
Yes, really
Barry confirms to Bette that he is indeed making records at the moment.
Do you still play piano for people?
Bette asks Barry if he still performs as a piano player for people.
Well, depends on who
Barry says that it depends on who he's playing for whether he would still play the piano.
Hmm, I'm gonna get you
Bette playfully tells Barry that she's going to get him.
On a slow boat to China
Bette sings about taking Barry on a slow boat ride to China as a romantic gesture.
All to myself alone
Bette wants to have Barry all to herself and be alone with him during the slow boat ride.
Get you and keep you
Bette wants to get Barry and keep him as hers.
In my arms evermore
Bette wants to hold Barry in her arms forever.
Leave all the others
Bette wants Barry to leave everybody else behind.
Waitin' on a faraway shore
Bette describes all the other people waiting for Barry on a faraway shore while they are on the slow boat to China.
Out on the briny
Bette talks about being out on the sea.
Where the moon's Big and shiny
Bette paints the picture of a beautiful moon shining bright on the sea.
Melting your heart of stone
Bette talks about melting Barry's heart, which is described as being hard as a stone.
Bette, I didn't know
Barry tells Bette that he didn't know she felt strongly for him.
You felt that way about me
Barry realizes that Bette has romantic feelings for him.
I don't, I need a piano player
Bette clarifies that she doesn't have romantic feelings for Barry, but needs him to play the piano for her.
Ah, just like the old days
Barry reminisces about the old days of them playing music together.
You're not gonna change keys
Bette asks Barry if he's not going to change keys while they play music together.
On me are yah? Uh huh, oh
Bette playfully asks Barry if he's going to change keys on her and he affirms that he won't.
(You're never gonna get me)
Barry jokingly sings about not wanting to be caught by Bette.
(Not in a fast or slow boat at any crick)
Barry continues to joke about not wanting to be caught by Bette, saying that he won't be caught on any boat ride.
(I just get motion sick)
Barry gives an excuse for not wanting to go on a boat ride with Bette, claiming that he gets motion sickness.
I'm gonna make you mine
Bette asserts her determination to make Barry hers.
(Ha, you'll have to stand in line)
Barry jokes that Bette will have to stand in line to try and win him over, implying that he's not interested in a romantic relationship with her.
In my band evermore
Bette wants to keep Barry as a permanent part of her musical group.
(Now there's a new attack)
Barry jokes about Bette trying a new tactic to win him over.
(For me they'd swim to China)
Bette jokingly boasts that other people would go to great lengths just to be with her.
(To China and back)
Bette exaggerates the lengths other people would go to be with her, even if it means traveling to and from China.
(I wouldn't like the ocean)
Barry restates that he doesn't like the ocean, giving another reason why he doesn't want to be on a boat with Bette.
(Not even in a rowboat)
Barry emphasizes that he doesn't like being on the ocean, even if it's just a small rowboat.
(You always get your way)
Barry acknowledges that Bette often gets what she wants.
All to myself alone, together
Bette reiterates that she wants to have Barry all to herself during their boat ride, but in a playful way.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FRANK LOESSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind