"On a Slow Boat to China", sometimes shortened to "Slow Boat to China", is a popular song by American songwriter Frank Loesser, published in 1948.
It is a well-known pop standard, recorded by many artists, including a duet between Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby (for their 1958 album Fancy Meeting You Here), Ella Fitzgerald, Joni James, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Jimmy Buffett, Fats Domino, and Liza Minnelli.
In the UK, the biggest hit version was recorded in 1959 by Emile Ford and the Checkmates, which peaked at No. 3 on the UK singles chart.
Hit recordings Recorded byLabelCatalog numberDate first reached theBillboard magazineBest Seller chartWeeks on chartPeakNotesKay Kyser and His Orchestra (vocals: Harry Babbitt & Gloria Wood)Columbia Records38301October 15, 194819#2 This version was a number one hit in Australia in 1949 as well.Freddy Martin and His Orchestra (vocals: Glenn Hughes and The Martin Men)RCA Victor Records20-3123October 29, 194817#5Benny GoodmanCapitol Records15208November 12, 194812#10Art LundMGM Records10269November 5, 19489#13Larry ClintonDecca Records24482November 26, 19481#27
Idiom
Frank Loesser's daughter, Susan Loesser, authored a biography of her father, A Most Remarkable Fella (1993), in which she writes,
The idea is that "a slow boat to China" was the longest trip one could imagine. Loesser shifted the phrase to a more romantic setting, yet it eventually entered general parlance to mean anything that takes an extremely long time.Allan, William (December 11, 1977). "Jazz is back...big...on Records". The Pittsburgh Press.
Media
The phrase "a slow boat to China" (or a snowclone thereof) features: Sung by Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 film *The Master.
References