Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation. According to biographer John Swenson, Haley later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye. The spit-curl caught on as a 50's style signature, although Haley and others had worn the hairstyle much earlier.
In 1946, Haley joined his first professional group, a Pennsylvania-based western swing band called The Down Homers run by Kenny Roberts. It has often been reported in musical reference works that Haley's first professional recordings were made with the Down Homers on a pair of singles released in 1946 by Vogue Records. This was later debunked by Roberts and others, stating Haley had already left the group by the time the singles were made. In the early 2000s, however, a set of 1946 radio recordings by the Down Homers were discovered and Haley is definitely present as he is identified by name and sings a solo number "She Taught Me to Yodel"; these recordings were commercially released for the first time in 2006.
After gaining experience with the Down Homers, Haley set out on his own, forming several groups such as the Range Drifters and the Four Aces of Western Swing. With the Four Aces, he made a number of regionally successful country music singles in the late 1940s for Cowboy Records while working as a touring musician and later a radio DJ at WPWA. (Many of Haley's early recordings from this period would not be released until after his death.) After disbanding the Four Aces and briefly trying a solo career using the names Jack Haley and Johnny Clifton (as chronicled in the biography Sound and Glory), Haley formed a new group called The Saddlemen in either 1949 or 1950 (sources vary as to the exact year); this new group recorded for several labels, including one single for Atlantic Records, Haley's first exposure to a major national record company. In 1951, Haley was signed to Dave Miller's Philadelphia-based Holiday Records and began to change musical styles, recording cover versions of "Rocket "88"" (previously recorded by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats), and in, 1952, "Rock the Joint", previously recorded by several bands including Jimmy Preston and His Prestonians. (By the time of "Rock the Joint", Haley had graduated from Holiday Records to Miller's larger Essex label.) The relative success of these recordings (both sold in the 75,000-100,000 copy range in the Pennsylvania-New England region) convinced Haley that his new and as-yet officially unnamed hybrid of country and rhythm and blues could be a commercial success.and some of his family lives in oklahoma and there is a road named after his family.
Rockin' Chair On The Moon
Bill Haley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon
Oh, rock away my troubles, rock away my blues
In my rocking chair on the moon
When the moon is shining, shining from above
Shining on the couples, all a-making love
You look up in the sky, see the moon a-riding high
I'm sitting in a rocking chair, rocking away
In my rocking chair on the moon
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon
Oh, rock away my troubles, rock away my blues
In my rocking chair on the moon
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon
Oh, rock away my troubles, rock away my blues
In my rocking chair on the moon
Rocking in the moonlight, rocking away
Rocking in the moonlight, sleeping in the day
Haven't got a worry, haven't got a care
If I do, I'll lose 'em rocking in my rocking chair
Trouble seems to fly away, blues die away
In my rocking chair on the moon
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon
Oh, rock away my troubles, rock away my blues
In my rocking chair on the moon
The lyrics to Bill Haley's song, "Rockin' Chair On The Moon," are a whimsical and imaginative take on finding solace and peace of mind. The song essentially describes the singer's desire to escape from earthly troubles and retreat to a rocking chair on the moon. The repetitive use of the phrase "rock away my troubles, rock away my blues" reinforces the idea of the rocking chair as a source of comfort and stress relief.
The references to the moon and the couples making love under its light convey a sense of romanticism and escapism. The singer seems to be distancing himself from reality and immersing himself in a fantasy world where he can find peace and detachment. The line "haven't got a worry, haven't got a care" highlights the singer's desire to escape the pressures of life and revel in a sense of liberation.
Overall, the lyrics to "Rockin' Chair On The Moon" are playful and fanciful, using imaginative imagery to convey the idea of finding peace and contentment away from worldly concerns.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon
I possess a rocking chair on the moon made out of rocks that I can sit on and sway back and forth
Oh, rock away my troubles, rock away my blues
The act of rocking myself in my chair is so soothing that it helps alleviate any problems or sadness I may have
When the moon is shining, shining from above
During times when the moon is visible, shining down on us from the sky
Shining on the couples, all a-making love
The light from the moon is highlighting the couples who are making love to each other
You look up in the sky, see the moon a-riding high
When someone looks up into the sky, they can see the moon positioned high up above everything else
You look up in the sky, see a high flying guy
One may also see a man who is flying around high up in the sky
I'm sitting in a rocking chair, rocking away
As for me, I am currently sitting in my rocking chair and gently swaying back and forth
Rocking in the moonlight, rocking away
I'm enjoying the act of rocking myself while being bathed in the light of the moon
Rocking in the moonlight, sleeping in the day
I'm awake and active while everyone else is sleeping during the day
Haven't got a worry, haven't got a care
I don't have any worries or cares in the world at this moment in time
If I do, I'll lose 'em rocking in my rocking chair
If any problems or concerns do arise, I'm confident that they will disappear as I continue to rock myself in my chair
Trouble seems to fly away, blues die away
Any trouble or sadness I have seems to dissipate and disappear as I rock in my chair
Contributed by Miles D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
n00se
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon [2x]
Oh, rock away my troubles, rock away my blues
In my rocking chair on the moon
When the moon is shining, shining from above
Shining on the couples, all a-making love
You look up in the sky, see the moon a-riding high
You look up in the sky, see a high flying guy
I'm sitting in a rocking chair, rocking away
In my rocking chair on the moon
[2x:]
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon [2x]
Oh, rock away my troubles, rock away my blues
In my rocking chair on the moon
Rocking in the moonlight, rocking away
Rocking in the moonlight, sleeping in the day
Haven't got a worry, haven't got a care
If I do, I'll lose 'em rocking in my rocking chair
Trouble seems to fly away, blues die away
In my rocking chair on the moon
I got a rock, rock, rocking chair on the moon [2x]
Oh, rock away my troubles, rock away my blues
In my rocking chair on the moon
Peter Racippo
Another fine of example why Bill Haley is truly the "Father of Rock". It is unreal to me that this Guy didn't get the recognition he deserves. For the most part he is largely forgotten and/or overlooked even though loyal fans know the following: - He recorded one the biggest selling records of all time. - Formed the first Rock & Roll band. - First Rock and Roll Act to Tour the World. - Had six top twenty hit's before Elvis had his first. That's just of few of his accomplishments.
lehec123456
But he had not the voice and the look of Elvis. He was a country rock-a-billy singer. Elvis represented the youth of the time as Bill represent more a mature adult and but not a teenager. Anyway, he made great songs with his band.
Claws Crab
I was exposed to Bill Haley because he was one of my dad's favorite artists. I was obsessed with Rock Around the Clock from the age of 8.
Chris Naples
Rock around the clock is a direct rip off of Hank Williams. Move It on over , listen and compare . I don't begrudge any musician's right to make a living ,but the father of Rock ! That's ridiculous Fat Man by Fats Domino was released in 1949 ,Bill was a talent and knew an opportunity when he saw one, but he was the safe white guy alternative. And That Ain't RocknRoll !!
doubleotwentyone
Absolutely brilliant! This is one of my favourite Bill Haley tracks, I have it on a 78. Great guitar break and steel guitar licks.
rr111111
Arguably his best disc. Rhythm, musical expertise,excellent material, presented with a good dollop of panache. Brilliant. Takes me back fifty years. If only. Thank you.
ginger1959able
Just shows how great Bill was and is
whitefalcon64
It sounded wilder for the time he recorded. Love the playing of Marshall Lytle. It shows you the way rock'n'roll was cookin'. Thanks for post it. Greatings from Spain.
ginger1959able
The founding Father of rock and roll!
ginger1959able
Played the pivotal role!