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.

On a Slow Boat to China
Fats Domino Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'd love to get you
On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone
Get you to keep you in my arms evermore
Leave all your lovers
Weeping on the faraway shore

Out on the briny

With the moon big and shiny
Melting your heart of stone
I'd love to get you
On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone

Out on the briny
With the moon big and shiny
Melting your heart of stone
I'd love to get you

On a slow boat to China
All to myself alone

Overall Meaning

Fats Domino's "On a Slow Boat to China" is a romantic love song with a nostalgic feel that expresses the singer's desire to take his loved one away and keep her all to himself. The reference to a slow boat to China, which is an old expression used to describe a long and tedious journey, is used here to signify the singer's willingness to go to any length to be with his beloved. The song's opening line, "I'd love to get you on a slow boat to China," is a clever play on words, as it implies that the singer wants to take his love on a slow boat ride, but he also wants to snag her affection.

The lyrics depict the singer's desire to have his love all to himself, to hold her in his arms forever, and to leave her past lovers crying on the shore. The phrase "Leave all your lovers weeping on the faraway shore" is a powerful image and shows the intensity of the singer's emotions. As the singer continues to paint a romantic picture of leaving with his love, he mentions the moon shining bright in the night sky, and the salty sea air taking away the hardness of his love's heart.

In conclusion, "On a Slow Boat to China" is a poetic love song that speaks to the timeless yearning for true love and the desire to be with that special someone at any cost. The lyrics are simple, yet effective in their evocation of nostalgic romance and unbridled passion. The song celebrates the eternal hope of lovers and the possibility of a fantasy journey that may lead to a lifetime of romance.

Line by Line Meaning

I'd love to get you
The singer desires the person they are addressing.

On a slow boat to China
The singer wants to take a slow journey with the person they desire to a faraway place.

All to myself alone
The singer wants to have the person they desire all to themselves, free from any other distractions or people.

Get you to keep you in my arms evermore
The artist desires to hold the person they want in their arms for an indefinite amount of time.

Leave all your lovers
The artist wants the person they desire to leave all of their current lovers behind.

Weeping on the faraway shore
The singer pictures the person's previous lovers as sad and heartbroken on a distant shore, left behind while the singer and the desired person set sail on a slow boat to China.

Out on the briny
The singer is referring to being at sea, out on the ocean.

With the moon big and shiny
The artist imagines a bright, full moon shining down on them while they are sailing on the ocean.

Melting your heart of stone
The artist hopes that the person they desire will soften and fall in love with them.

I'd love to get you
The artist reiterates their desire for the person they are addressing.

On a slow boat to China
The singer repeats their desire to take a journey with the person they want to a faraway place.

All to myself alone
The artist repeats their desire to have the person they desire all to themselves.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOBBY WHITLOCK, JOHN PRINE, LINDA WHITLOCK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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