Slow Boat to China

Slow Boat to China

Frank Leosser (1948), Benny Goodman (#7 in 1949), Kay Kaiser (#2 in 1948),
Freddy Martin (#4 in 1948), Eddy Howard (#6 in 1948)

There is no verse to this song,
'Cause I don't want to wait a moment too long
To say that ...

I'd love to get you on a slow boat to China,
All to myself all alone.
Get you and keep you in my arms evermore,
Leave all your lovers
Weepin' on the far away shore.

Out on the briny with a 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

Famed "aqua musical" star Esther Williams discussed the early days of movie censorship during an appearance at a Carnegie Hall tribute to MGM musicals this week, recalling that censors refused to allow the Frank Loesser-penned "I'd Like to Get You on a Slow Boat to China" to be included in her movie, Neptune's Daughter (1949). As reported by New York Post columnist Neal Travis, "Ken Starr lookalikes" who vetted the film's material decided that "get" meant the F-word. Williams said that she replied that if that were so, "there'd be an awful lot of f---ing between here and China."

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