Van Morrison: Domino Meaning
Domino Lyrics
I think it’s time for a change
You may get disgusted
And think I’m strange
In that case I’ll go underground
Get some heavy rest
Never have to worry
About what is worst and what is best
Oh oh domino
Roll me over...
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1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:Van Morrison was heavily influenced by American R&B music. This is a tribute song to Fats Domino.
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2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation:Some of these comments amuse me. I rarely comment on these but sometimes some basic clarity is required.
Domino is another name for a mask.
If "Romeo" rolls him over, he's no longer in bed with his Juliet. Basically, Van's girl likes some other guy. He wants to hide from the situation.
In the end, you put on a mask (domino) to hide from others (including hiding your feelings) and possibly change who you are... like not being the type of guy who can accept his girl liking another guy. He's sad and upset - which is THE best time to listen to the blues.
As much as I'm sure Mr.Morrison can appreciate your views in his being progressive and writing about being gay... this isn't that. -
I interpret this song to mean if you need change in your life go for it and don't worry about what others think.And if you don't contact me to see how I am,you probably never cared anyway so thats that.maybe a simplistic approach but I love this song and it really makes me feel better when im down.❤️
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Don’t want to discuss it /
I think it’s time for a change /
It seems to me like he's in the "friend zone" with this girl, and is suggesting that her choice of lover is not good for her. Being tired of hearing about the lover(s) he doesn't "want to discuss it" and further suggests that he thinks "it's time for a change".
You may get disgusted /
And think I’m strange /
This song is a confession of his love and he is suggesting that she start going out with him, but he is afraid that she might find the idea of going out with her close friend as "disgusting" and "strange".
In that case I’ll go underground /
Get some heavy rest /
Never have to worry /
About what is worst and what is best /
If she does feel that way and denies him it'll break his heart. He'll feel like he wants to crawl into his grave where he can take the time to heal from the heartbreak. He would also be giving up on having her as a lover/friend and not really care about whether she's making the right decisions in her love life.
Oh oh domino /
Roll me over romeo /
In the game of dominoes the loser calls out "domino" to the winner. So, he's saying that he's lost to this girl's lover and is getting pushed aside. ("Roll me over" also ties into the previous line of going underground as if he's rolling in his grave.)
There’s no need for argument /
There’s no argument at all /
And if you never hear from him /
That just means he didn’t call /
Or vice versa /
That depends on where ever you’re at /
And if you never hear from me /
That just means I would rather not /
This seems to be another reference to his role as a friend. Where he has to hear about this girl's worries in her relationships, and having to reassure her that nothing is wrong. Again, he's also suggesting that he's sick of hearing about her other lover(s), and he "would rather not" get involved with the conversation.
As an aside I think that the song can also be interpreted as a man getting cheated on by his lover. The meanings of the lyrics are mostly the same, but instead of confessing his love in the first verse he is breaking up with her. In the second verse, it sounds like she wants to get back with him, but he's over it and doesn't really care anymore. -
It is typical of a gay person to think (or should I say hope) everyone is gay.
Van Morriso"s writing is usually deep either in meaning or soul. I'm sure this gay thinks deep means something else. What a pain in the !!!. As for the other man crediting his comment with being progressive, I don't think referring to anal sex is progressive - please really!!!
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It is clearly a reference to anal sex.
"You might get disgusted, and start thinking that I'm strange" is his fear of a negative reaction to broaching the subject.
"Roll me over" is to get in position for anal. -
Its about a guy who is in love with a women, who may also be his freind, and he is just waiting for this idiot the screw it up because he cant take it and because he at the same time think he may have a chance with her then. Roll me over refers to the game. Roll me over, or put me in play give me a chance to match ends with her. By the end hes had. Enough and wishes he didnt still care for her.
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I always thought the song was about radio stations being unwilling to play "black" music on their stations. He says that pretty clearly towards the end of the song. The part where he says "and if you never hear from him, that just means you didn't call" refers to not reaching out and looking for those types of songs to play.
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Or is this simply one of those songs that was written to be musically appealing, but needs some kind of lyrics to make it a song, so the writer just packs it with a lot of "word salad" to fill the order?
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If Van was to glance at these ideas he'd probably get a good laugh.
Every now and then a writer throws a line at you for fun-designed to make you puzzle and search for hidden meanings which were not there to begin with.
There is nothing better than a word game in a song.
But what I've read here will be good fun to relate at the pub.
You guys are lookin'for a forest when there aren't even any trees around for miles. -
There is a version on the Philosopher's stone:
There was a girl I used to know
long blonde hair and I loved her so
there was this place where we used to go
have some fun with the lights down low -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Jimmy's right. It's obviously a tale of homosexual dalliance.
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I think Morrison is referring to a homosexual affair.
Jimmy -
I think this song is about the writer’s frustration with the game of love, in light of the fact that his lover is seeing another man, a Romeo.
One definition of domino is a game played with a set of small blocks. Perhaps this song is about playing love games, in light of the references to Romeo and “never hear[ing] from him.” Most of us are aware that Romeo references a "a lover, passionate admirer, seducer of women."
“And if you never hear from him, that just means he didn’t call,” supports the idea that writer is addressing the fact that his love interest has interest in another man. The fact that the writer says “roll me over, Romeo,” suggests that the other man is the Romeo.
So, if the other man is the Romeo, and the writer says, “I think it’s time for a change,” this could mean that the writer is contemplating backing off in the relationship with his love interest, in light of her involvement of Romeo.
Now, why the writer would say the following, I’m unsure:
You may get disgusted, and think I’m strange
In that case I’ll go underground
Get some heavy rest
Never have to worry
About what is worst and what is best
I don’t know why the writer’s potential change would disgust the love interest. I could see a love interest being disappointed or angry. But disgusted sounds like “discuss it,” from a previous line, and this may be the writer’s best effort at lyrically conveying the love interest’s potential disappointment or anger over the proposed change.
As far as,
In that case I’ll go underground
Get some heavy rest
Never have to worry
About what is worst and what is best
I think the writer means that, if the love interest chooses to continue with Romeo, in light of the writer’s proposed change, the writer will retreat, disconnect from, and ignore the love interest and possibly self medicate, either literally or figuratively.
If the lover continues with Romeo, the writer may want to rid his lover from his mind. The writer would want to avoid thinking about whether it’s better to stay with the lover, and put up with the lack of exclusivity, or retreat.
Regarding
Oh oh domino
Roll me over romeo
The writer may be saying, oh, the games of love! The writer may be exasperated over such games. The writer seems to say, go ahead, Romeo, and continue to ruin my otherwise good situation. The writer seems to feel defeated.
There’s no need for argument
There’s no argument at all
And if you never hear from him
That just means he didn’t call
Or vice versa
That depends on where ever you’re at
And if you never hear from me
That just means I would rather not
The writer seems to say that he doesn’t want to argue or negotiate. He seems firm. He is repeating the idea behind “don’t want to discuss it.”
He also suggests the possibility that the relationship between his lover and Romeo may fail. Romeo may only want a fling with the writer’s lover and may stop calling at any time. The lover may not be willing to pursue her Romeo. The writer is reminding his lover that she could lose twice, if she continues with Romeo.
That depends on where ever you’re at
I struggle to find the meaning to this. Maybe the writer is merely saying the choice is up to you, my love. The outcome depends on your choice, the writer seems to say.
And if you never hear from me
That just means I would rather not
The writer seems to say, no pressure, my love. But the writer seems to imply that, if the choice is to keep the status quo, the writer will retreat.
This is my first time to write or post an interpretation. The full text of the lyrics, taken from another website, follows:
Don’t want to discuss it
I think it’s time for a change
You may get disgusted
And think I’m strange
In that case I’ll go underground
Get some heavy rest
Never have to worry
About what is worst and what is best
Oh oh domino
Roll me over romeo
There you go
Lord have mercy
I said oh oh domino
Roll me over romeo
There you go
Say it again
I said oh oh domino
I said oh oh domino
There’s no need for argument
There’s no argument at all
And if you never hear from him
That just means he didn’t call
Or vice versa
That depends on where ever you’re at
And if you never hear from me
That just means I would rather not
I said oh oh domino
Roll me over romeo
There you go
Lord have mercy
I said oh oh domino
Roll me over romeo
There you go
Say it again
Oh oh domino
I said oh oh domino.
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