Dinah Washington, Big Long Slidin’ Thing | Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥

In the 52^nd edition of Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 (2025), we explore the naughty, sexy vibes behind “Big Long Slidin’ Thing” by Dinah Washington. 

Ah, bring on Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥! Wait – it is not usually hot at midnight! Well, it is steaming hot 🥵 at midnight when it comes to this naughty, innuendo, and sex-laden column featuring songs intended for nighttime. These risqué, unapologetic records often raise eyebrows and temperature alike. In the 52^nd edition of Midnight Heat (2025), we explore the naughty, sexy vibes behind “Big Long Slidin’ Thing” by Dinah Washington.

“Been tryin’ to find my daddy / With that broke down piece of junk.” Daddy and junk seem to be the keywords for Dinah Washington (1924 – 1963) on these lyrics 😈, excerpted from the first verse of “Big Long Slidin’ Thing”. “Big Long Slidin’ Thing” was released way back in 1954. Leroy Kirkland and Mamie Thomas composed this song, whose title alone is innuendo-laden to the nth degree. Perhaps you are less dirty-minded or perverted than the multitude, but it seems that “Big Long Slidin’ Thing” is an early example of female sex-positivity. And, judging by how dynamic Washington gets by the end, the sex, when successfully executed, is electric 🤭 🤩!

“‘You’ll know my daddy / He’s that trombone playin’ man’,” Washington sings in the first verse, adding, “Tell me, where is my daddy / With that big, long slidin’ thing?” There is no way that Dinah was talking about her father, let alone a low brass instrument.  She had to be talking about his (a fine man’s) penis. From naughty tromboning, in the second verse, the steel guitarist becomes the sexual object proponent, but he’s not good enough in bed…  “He brought his amplifier / And he hitched it in my plug,” Washington asserts, adding, “He planked it, and he plunked it / But it just wasn’t good enough.” Damn! I have questions about what planking and plunking entail, but I’ll leave it alone… But, she could be a size queen. She wanted something, dare I say, longer… It doesn’t end there, folks. Piano Jack (🤭) arrives in the third verse “to do some tinklin’ / On your piano keys.” 😏 Of course, all Dinah wants is that damned trombone player who is packing 😮‍💨.  In the fourth and final verse, we hear about his masterful technique.

“‘I blow through here

Then I work my fingers and my thumb

I slide it back again

And I get a lot of wind

And then I slide it back again.’”

Holy fuck… Pardon my French, but let’s stop beating around the bush… That slide action is the hit, as in, it hits the spot! Don’t deny it! “Big Long Slidin’ Thing” is about getting good pipe! Can you blame Dinah Washington? That man is hitting it right! Even as dirty as this song is, Washington sounds delightful singing over the accompaniment of a tight rhythm section and big band. Playful and sassy, Dinah sells it like a champ.  She makes us all want the trombone daddy with that big, long, slidin’ thing 🤤.