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.
I Can't Go on Rosalie
Fats Domino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rosalie, come back to me
I'm reeling and I'm rocking like a willow tree
Rosalie, come back home
Rosalie, come back home
I might as well confess, I'm blue and all alone
Oh I know you're not doing me right
Please come back and try to stay
Can't go on this way
Rosalie, come back to me
I'm reeling and I'm rocking like a willow tree
Rosalie, come back to me
Rosalie, come back to me
I'm reeling and I'm rocking like a willow tree
Rosalie, come back home
Rosalie, please come home
I might as well confess, I'm blue and all alone
In Fats Domino's song "I Can't Go On," the lyrics speak to a sense of loss and heartbreak, as the singer pleads for his love interest, Rosalie, to return to him. The opening lines, "Rosalie, come back to me," are repeated several times and set a tone of desperation and longing. He describes himself as "reeling and rocking like a willow tree," highlighting the emotional turmoil he is experiencing in the wake of the breakup.
The second verse continues with similar themes, as the singer confesses that he is "blue and all alone" without Rosalie by his side. He cannot sleep and knows that Rosalie is not treating him well, yet he still begs for her to return and "try to stay." The final lines of the song once again repeat the plea for Rosalie to come back home and offer a confession of the singer's loneliness.
Overall, "I Can't Go On" is a classic example of a love song that speaks to universal human experience. Its simple, repetitive lyrics and upbeat melody capture the essence of heartbreak and make it relatable to listeners across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Rosalie, come back to me
The singer is pleading with Rosalie to return to him.
Rosalie, come back to me
The singer is still begging for Rosalie to come back to him.
I'm reeling and I'm rocking like a willow tree
The singer feels unsteady and emotional, like a willow tree swaying in the wind.
Rosalie, come back home
The artist wants Rosalie to return to the place they shared as home.
Rosalie, come back home
The artist repeats his plea for Rosalie to come back home.
I might as well confess, I'm blue and all alone
The singer admits to feeling sad and lonely without Rosalie.
I can't sleep day or night
The singer is restless and cannot sleep properly.
Oh I know you're not doing me right
The artist suspects that Rosalie has done something wrong that caused her to leave him or be unfaithful.
Please come back and try to stay
The artist is begging Rosalie to not only come back, but to also stay with him.
Can't go on this way
The artist is unable to continue living without Rosalie.
Rosalie, come back to me
The singer hopes that Rosalie will still return to him.
I'm reeling and I'm rocking like a willow tree
The artist is still emotionally unstable and uses the same simile to describe his state of mind.
Rosalie, come back to me
The singer is still hopeful that Rosalie will come back to him.
Rosalie, come back to me
The singer's repetition of the same plea comes from his deep desire for Rosalie to return.
Rosalie, come back home
The singer is pleading with Rosalie to return not only to him, but to their shared home.
Rosalie, please come home
The artist adds the word 'please' to his request, hoping it will convince Rosalie to return.
I might as well confess, I'm blue and all alone
The artist repeats his admission of feeling lonely and sad without Rosalie.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTOINE DOMINO, DAVE BARTHOLOMEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roger Black
B side of Blueberry Hill in UK