Rockin' Chair
Band (The) Lyrics
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Don't you raise the sails anymore.
It's for sure, I've spent my whole life at sea
And I'm pushin' age seventy three;
Now there's only one place that was meant for me:
Oh, to be home again,
Down in old Virginny,
With my very best friend,
They call him Ragtime Willie.
We're gonna soothe away the rest of our years,
We're gonna put away all of our tears,
That big Rockin' Chair won't go nowhere.
Slow down, Willie Boy,
Your heart's gonna give right out on you
It's true, and I believe I know what we should do.
Turn the stern and point to shore,
The seven seas won't carry us no more.
Oh, to be home again,
Down in old Virginny,
With my very best friend,
They call him Ragtime Willie.
I can't wait to sniff that air,
Dip'n snuff, I won't have no care,
That big Rockin' Chair won't go nowhere.
Hear the sound, Willie Boy,
The Flyin' Dutchman's on the reef.
It's my belief
We've used up all our time,
This hill's to steep to climb,
And the days that remain ain't worth a dime.
Oh, to be home again,
Down in old Virginny,
With my very best friend,
They call him Ragtime Willie.
Would-a-been nice just t'see the folks,
Listen once again to the stale jokes,
That big Rockin' Chair won't go nowhere.
I can hear something calling on me
And you know where I want to be
Oh Willie don't you hear that sound
Oh to be home again down in old Virginny
I just want to get my feet back on the ground
Oh to be home again down in old Virginny
I'd love to see my very best friend
They call him Rag-time Willie
I believe old rockin chair's got me(oh to be home again)
The song "Rockin' Chair" by The Band is a touching ballad about an aging seaman who is reflecting on his past and just wants to go back home, to his beloved Virginny where he has his best friend, Ragtime Willie. The sailor is tired of the rough seas and wants to retire and live his final years in peace. The song is full of melancholic nostalgia as the sailor reflects on his life at sea and all the things he has missed out on. He realizes that he needs to return home and enjoy what little time he has left on this earth.
The opening lines of the first verse invite Willie to spend more time with the sailor and not raise the sails anymore. The sailor contemplates his life at sea and how it has made him who he is. Despite all his experiences, the only place he belongs is back home in Virginny. The sailor wants to go home and be with his best friend, where they will spend their remaining years in contentment. The sailor ponders his life and wants to go back to the simpler times in his life - he suggests that they sit and rock in a big rocking chair without traveling far.
The song expresses the sentiments of a person at the end of their life, who just wants to be close to the people and places they love. The lyrics speak to the dream of returning home that people at one point or another have. The musician's sorrowful delivery of the vocals adds to the nostalgic longing felt in the song. The track received critical praise, with many people respecting its message and The Band's music.
Line by Line Meaning
Hang around, Willie Boy,
Stay here with me, Willie Boy,
Don't you raise the sails anymore.
There's no need to set sail anymore.
It's for sure, I've spent my whole life at sea
I am certain that I have lived my entire life on the sea.
And I'm pushin' age seventy three;
I am getting old and I am currently 73 years old.
Now there's only one place that was meant for me:
I know the only place that I truly belong.
Oh, to be home again,
How I long to return to my home
Down in old Virginny,
I want to go to Virginia,
With my very best friend,
I want to be with my closest friend,
They call him Ragtime Willie.
People call him Ragtime Willie.
We're gonna soothe away the rest of our years,
We will spend our remaining years in relaxation and comfort,
We're gonna put away all of our tears,
We will no longer cry,
That big Rockin' Chair won't go nowhere.
We will be stationary in our peaceful rocking chairs.
Slow down, Willie Boy,
Take it slow, Willie Boy,
Your heart's gonna give right out on you
Your heart will eventually give out,
It's true, and I believe I know what we should do.
I know what we should do to prevent it.
Turn the stern and point to shore,
Let's direct our boat towards the shore,
The seven seas won't carry us no more.
We will no longer travel across the ocean.
I can't wait to sniff that air,
I am excited to smell that fresh air,
Dip'n snuff, I won't have no care,
I will have no worries while dipping snuff,
Hear the sound, Willie Boy,
Listen to that sound, Willie Boy,
The Flyin' Dutchman's on the reef.
There is a ghost ship stuck on the reef.
It's my belief
I truly think
We've used up all our time,
We have run out of time,
This hill's too steep to climb,
This challenge is too difficult to overcome,
And the days that remain ain't worth a dime.
The remaining days are worthless.
Would-a-been nice just t'see the folks,
It would be nice to see some people
Listen once again to the stale jokes,
Listen to those old jokes once again,
I can hear something calling on me
I can hear a voice calling me
And you know where I want to be
You know where I want to go
Oh Willie don't you hear that sound
Can't you hear that sound, Willie
I just want to get my feet back on the ground
I just want to have my feet back on the land
I'd love to see my very best friend
I would really love to see my closest friend again
I believe old rockin chair's got me(oh to be home again)
I think the old rocking chair has already caught up to me, and I long to return to my home.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBBIE ROBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack Thornes
I don’t think i’ll ever get over how good this album is
jonasjar
this is one of the most incredible songs I've heard in my entire life
C. Thurston
Don’t get out much?
bartonone2005
The older I get, the more this song resonates with me. Pretty sharp insight from a bunch of young songwriters. I hope Richard Manuel and Rick Danko are smiling. Their music has sure made me happy.
Michael Macias
I completely agree.
George Kivari
Add Levon to this list as well
Joel Wexler
@George Kivari All the voices are gone.
The days that remain ain't worth a dime
malcolm sweet
@Joel Wexler we'll never see their like again
bartonone2005
@malcolm sweet For sure!!
Dan Fleshler
I've probably listened to this 1000 times since the early '70s. Just now realized how much feeling they all packed into the chorus. Each of them poured his heart out into every note, and that's one reason why the harmonies are so haunting.