Boyd moved to the Beale Street district of Memphis, Tennessee in 1936 where he played piano and guitar with his group, the Dixie Rhythm Boys. Boyd followed the great migration northward to the factories of Chicago, Illinois in 1941.
He wrote and recorded the hit songs "Five Long Years" (1952), "24 Hours" (1953), and the "Third Degree" (co-written by Willie Dixon, also 1953). Boyd toured Europe with Buddy Guy's band in 1965 as part of the American Folk Blues Festival. He later toured and recorded with Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
Tired of the racial discrimination he experienced in the United States, he first moved to Belgium where he recorded with the Dutch band, Cuby and the Blizzards. He settled in Helsinki, Finland in 1970, where he recorded ten blues records, the first being Praise to Helsinki (1970). He married his wife, Leila, in 1977.
Boyd died in 1994 in Helsinki, Finland,
The Big Boat
Eddie Boyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my baby is waitin' to step on board
The big boat is at the landing
And my baby is waitin' to step on board
Yes, I know the little girl is leavin'
Oh but the reason why I just don't know
Crying sweet thing please don't go
I was standin' at the landing
Crying baby doll please don't go
Well, because you know I love you
Yes, I love you, woman
I love you with all my heart and soul
You know I got to find my baby
If it takes a lifetime to track her down
I got to find my baby
If it take a lifetime to track her down
I'm gonna stay on the trail of my little sweet thing
Keep her just like an old bloodhound
The song, The Big Boat, by Eddie Boyd is a ballad that deals with the themes of departure, separation and an overwhelming sense of loss. The first stanza of the song is about Boyd's lover who is waiting to board a big boat at a landing. The big boat symbolizes the imminent departure of his lover and the impending separation between them. The use of the word 'baby' in the song suggests that Boyd was in a romantic relationship with this person.
The second stanza describes how Boyd is crying at the landing, pleading with his lover not to leave. The repetition of the phrase 'please don't go' emphasizes his deep sadness and desperation. However, despite his love for her, Boyd seems to be unaware of the reason why his lover wants to leave him. This might suggest a lack of communication and understanding in their relationship.
In the third stanza, Boyd vows to find his lover, no matter how long it takes. He uses the imagery of a bloodhound to illustrate his determination to track her down. This implies that Boyd believes his love for her is stronger than any obstacle he might face in his journey to find her.
Overall, The Big Boat is a melancholic song that deals with the complexities of love and the pain of separation. The song highlights Boyd's emotional turmoil while trying to come to terms with the reality that his lover is leaving him.
Line by Line Meaning
The big boat is at the landing
A large watercraft has arrived at the dock
And my baby is waitin' to step on board
My beloved is eagerly waiting to board the boat
Yes, I know the little girl is leavin'
I'm aware that my girl is departing
Oh but the reason why I just don't know
But the cause for her departure is uncertain to me
I was standin' at the landing
I was present at the dock
Crying sweet thing please don't go
I was shedding tears, begging my darling not to leave
Crying baby doll please don't go
I was weeping, pleading with my lover not to depart
Well, because you know I love you
I have deep feelings of affection for my partner
Yes, I love you, woman
Truly, I adore and cherish my lady
I love you with all my heart and soul
I am passionate about my beloved with every fiber of my being
You know I got to find my baby
I must locate my sweetheart
If it takes a lifetime to track her down
Even if it takes many years to find her
I got to find my baby
It is essential for me to locate my beloved
If it take a lifetime to track her down
Even if it requires a significant amount of time and dedication to do so
I'm gonna stay on the trail of my little sweet thing
I will persistently pursue my sweetheart
Keep her just like an old bloodhound
I will pursue her with the intensity and loyalty of a hunting dog
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: EDDIE H. BOYD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind