Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino (born February 26, 1928 in New Orleans, Lou… Read Full Bio ↴Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino (born February 26, 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died October 24, 2017), was a classic R&B and rock and roll singer, songwriter and pianist. He was the best-selling African-American singer of the 1950s and early 1960s whose congenial, non threatening personality allowed him to succeed despite a period of deep-seated racial segregation. Domino is also a pianist with an individualistic bluesy style showing stride and boogie-woogie influences.

In 1986, he was among the first batch to get inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. "Ain't That A Shame" and "Blueberry Hill" were named part of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. In 2004, "Blueberry Hill" was named #81 and "Ain't That A Shame" was named #431 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. In 2004, he was named #25 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time.

In the wake of Domino's rescue from his 9th ward home during 2005's Hurricane Katrina, the Tipitina's Foundation organized a tribute album to the elder artist featuring Robert Plant, Norah Jones, Paul McCartney and numerous other acts that owe a creative debt to this seminal rock n roll pianist.

Hey La Bas Boogie
Fats Domino Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey! la bas
Hey! la bas
Hey! la bas
Hey! la bas
Hey! la bas
Hey! la bas
Hey! la bas
Hey! la bas

Hey! la bas
Hey! la bas

Venez mon cher (Come my dear)
Venez mon cher (Come my dear)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fats Domino's song "Hey La Bas Boogie" are in Creole French, which is a language spoken in Louisiana. The song uses repetition to convey excitement and encourage movement, as the "Hey! la bas" refrain is repeated 10 times before encouraging the listener to "come my dear" with the "Venez mon cher" line. Delivered in Domino's signature upbeat and lively piano style, the song invokes the spirit of New Orleans' boogie-woogie dance scene.

The phrase "Hey La Bas" translates to "Hey Over There" or "Hey Down There" in English, referring to the fact that the music and dance scene is happening in a specific location. The phrase was commonly used as a greeting among musicians and dancers in New Orleans at the time the song was written in the 1940s. The song is also widely regarded as an early precursor to rock 'n roll, with its infectious beat and call-and-response lyrics influencing later musicians like Little Richard and Chuck Berry.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey! la bas
Hey over there! Look! Something is happening!

Venez mon cher
Come with me, my dear friend.

Writer(s): Dave Bartholomew

Contributed by Claire O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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