The Fat Man

Album: Fats Domino's Hits (1950)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "The Fat Man" was the B-side of "Detroit City Blues" and was recorded by Domino the same day, December 10, 1949, at J&M Studio. Co-written with bandleader and regular collaborator Dave Bartholomew, it runs to around 2 minutes 39 seconds, and is partly autobiographical, with an explanation for his nickname:

    They call me the fat man
    'Cause I weigh 200 pounds
  • The song finds Domino standing on the corner of Rampart and Canal streets in New Orleans, watching the girls go by. He decides to leave, because "women and a bad life" are "carrying this soul away."

    Of course, if you're looking to get in trouble and enjoy the company of certain ladies, New Orleans is one of the best places to do it. In this part of the song, Domino is playing a role; he was already married to his childhood sweetheart (and remained so until her death in 2008) and had no interest in leaving New Orleans, where he made his home.
  • "The Fat Man" is based on a 1940 song Domino often performed called "Junker's Blues," recorded by a former boxer who went by Champion Jack Dupree. It begins:

    Some people call me a junker,
    Say I'm loaded out of my mind
  • There is no real chorus in this song, just a middle section where Domino repeats "wah wah wah" over and over.
  • Domino played the piano as well as supplying the vocal, and was accompanied by an orchestra. Other personnel included Ernest McLean on guitar, Herb Hardesty on sax and Earl Palmer on drums.
  • Released in 1950, "The Fat Man" sold well, reaching #6 on the R&B chart and launched what was to become a distinguished career. Domino died in October 2017 aged 89. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NySeventy years ago today on March 18th, 1950, Fats Domino's "The Fat Man" peaked at #2* {for 1 week} on Billboard's 'Most-Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records' chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Double Crossing Blues" by the Johnny Otis Quintette featuring Little Esther and the Robins...
    Between 1950 and 1964 the New Orleans native had sixty records on the R&B charts, thirty eight made the Top 10 with nine reaching #1...
    Fats Domino, born Antoine Domino Jr., passed away at the age of 89 on October 24th, 2017...
    May he R.I.P.
    * "The Fat Man" was Fats Domino's first of an amazing ten of his records to peak at #2 on the R&B charts...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth'department, the remainder of the Most-Played R&B Juke Box' Top 10 on March 18th, 1950:
    At #3. "Information Blue" by Roy Milton and His Solid Senders
    #4. "I Almost Lost My Mind" by Ivory Joe Hunter
    #5. "Why Do Things Happen To Me?" by Roy Hawkins
    #5. "Rag Mop" by Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra
    #7. "Three Times Seven Equals Twenty-One" by Jewel King
    #7. "School Days" by Louis Jordan
    #9. "Little School Girl" by Smokey Hogg
    #9. "I Like My Baby's Pudding" by Wynonie Harris

see more comments

Editor's Picks

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.