He has never toured the United States, where he is best known for the 1978 single "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, earning him a Grammy nomination as Best New Artist in 1978. A decade later, "Working On It" topped the Mainstream Rock chart. He has sold more than 40 million records worldwide.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Rea
Studio albums
Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? (Magnet, 1978)
Deltics (Magnet, 1979)
Tennis (Magnet, 1980)
Chris Rea (Magnet, 1981)
Water Sign (Magnet, 1983)
Wired to the Moon (Magnet, 1984)
Shamrock Diaries (Magnet, 1985)
On the Beach (Magnet, 1986)
Dancing with Strangers (Magnet, 1987)
The Road to Hell (WEA, 1989)
Auberge (EastWest, 1991)
God's Great Banana Skin (EastWest, 1992)
Espresso Logic (EastWest, 1993)
La Passione (soundtrack, EastWest, 1996)
The Blue Cafe (EastWest, 1998)
The Road to Hell: Part 2 (EastWest, 1999)
King of the Beach (EastWest, 2000)
Dancing Down the Stony Road/Stony Road (Jazzee Blue, 2002
Blue Street (Five Guitars) (Jazzee Blue, 2003)
Hofner Blue Notes (Jazzee Blue, 2003)
The Blue Jukebox (Jazzee Blue, 2004)
Blue Guitars (Jazzee Blue, 2005)
The Return of the Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes (Jazzee Blue, 2008)
Santo Spirito Blues (Jazzee Blue, 2011)
Road Songs for Lovers (Jazzee Blue, 2017)
One Fine Day (Rhino, limited release, 2019)
Slow Dance
Chris Rea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's that stuff going on
Yeah I screamed at mama
Where did that feeling come from
She said son I don't know what it is
But I know that's where you belong
Mama looked at me,
She smiled me a sunny day
Took all my fear away
She said son now I know for sure
What you gonna do one day
It's a slow dance,
Dance of the rhythm and blues
It's a slow dance,
Dance of the rhythm and blues
Now I screamed at mama,
Mama tell me where did you go
Yeah I screamed for my mama,
Mama tells me what you come to know
I was born with this feeling
And it ain't going to let me go
It's a slow dance,
Dance of the rhythm and blues
It's a slow dance,
Dance of the rhythm and blues
The lyrics to Chris Rea's Slow Dance tell the story of a young man who is trying to understand the intense feelings he has within him. He is screaming at his mother, desperate to know where this feeling has come from. His mother can't identify the feeling, but knows that it's where he belongs. She looks at him with a smile and takes away his fear, ensuring him that she knows that he is going to be something great one day. The young man then continues to ask his mother where she went, and to tell him what she has come to know. He proclaims that he was born with this feeling that is never going to let him go.
The song's lyrics seem to be about a musician's passion for music, specifically the rhythm and blues. The singer of the song is unsure where this feeling comes from, but his mother has the wisdom to tell him that it's where he belongs. The slow dance referred to in the lyrics might be a metaphor for the young man's slow and steady journey to becoming a successful musician, holding onto his love for rhythm and blues throughout. The repetition of the line 'It's a slow dance, dance of the rhythm and blues' highlights the importance of the genre to the young man and perhaps his determination to make a career out of it.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I screamed at mama,
The singer talked loudly to his mother, expressing his frustration.
What's that stuff going on
He asked his mother what the situation was and why things were happening.
Yeah I screamed at mama
He repeats his actions of shouting at his mother.
Where did that feeling come from
The singer is curious about the origin of his emotions.
She said son I don't know what it is
His mother tells him that she doesn't know what is happening to him.
But I know that's where you belong
She assures him that he is in the right place and that there is a reason for what he is feeling.
Mama looked at me,
His mother gave him a comforting look.
She smiled me a sunny day
Her smile made him feel happy and hopeful.
Yeah mama looked at me
He emphasizes the impact of his mother's approval.
Took all my fear away
Her reassuring expression made him feel less anxious.
She said son now I know for sure
His mother has now gained confidence and certainty in her understanding of what he will do in the future.
What you gonna do one day
She confirms that he has a purpose and a plan for his life.
It's a slow dance,
The song title is repeated.
Dance of the rhythm and blues
The singer describes the style of the music he is dancing to.
Now I screamed at mama,
The singer repeats his previous actions towards his mother.
Mama tell me where did you go
He asked where his mother had disappeared to.
Yeah I screamed for my mama,
The singer repeats his call for his mother's attention.
Mama tells me what you come to know
His mother wants him to share his newfound knowledge and understanding with her.
I was born with this feeling
The singer believes that this emotional state he is in is an innate part of himself.
And it ain't going to let me go
He is aware that this feeling is going to stay with him for a while.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dana Gradinaru
<3