While Gayle is the younger sister of Loretta Lynn, her musical sound is very different from Lynn's. Gayle's career began as country music moved towards a more pop-oriented sound in the 1970s, as exemplified by such performers as Lynn Anderson and Barbara Mandrell. Gayle's music reflects the modern Nashville sound.
Rockin' Chair
Crystal Gayle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Old rocking chair got you, father)
Cane by my side
(Your cane by your side)
Fetch me that gin, son
(I ain't got no gin, father)
'Fore I tan your hide
Can't get from this cabin
(Cabin, joking follow)
Ain't go nowhere
(You ain't goin' nowhere?)
Just sittin' me here grabbin'
(Grabbin' )
At the flies 'round my rockin' chair
(Rockin' chair)
Old dear aunt Harriet
(Aunt Harriet)
How long to Heaven she be?
(Heaven she be)
Send me a sweet chariot
(Oh chariot)
For the end of the trouble I see
(My sweet Cherie)
Old rockin' chair gets it
(Rocking chair get it, father)
Judgment Day is almost here
(Judgment Day is here)
Chained to my old
(Sing it pop, sing it)
Rockin' chair
[Incomprehensible]
Old rocking chair got you, father
(Yes, indeed, yes indeed, yes indeed, you got it)
And your cane by your side
(Can't get around no more)
But I ain't got no gin, father
(Well, that's all the sadness)
Oh, you gonna tan my hide, tan my hide
(Yeah, yeah get it)
You can't get from this cabin
(Man, I don't wanna go nowhere)
Oh no, father, but you ain't goin' nowhere
(Aha, aha)
You sittin' here grabbin', you grabbin', you grabbin'
(Grabbin', grabbin')
The flies 'round the old rockin' chair, rockin' chair
My dear old, aunt Harriet
(Yes son, how long to heaven she be?)
May up in heaven she be
(Yeah, you don't like that)
Oh chariot, oh chariot, chariot, chariot, chariot
(Yeah I got your ride, I got your ride, got every chariot)
Once again in the time of trouble, I've seen
(Yeah, nobody knows the trouble I've seen)
Old rockin' chair get it, rockin' chair get it
(Old rockin' chair get it)
And Judgment Day, oh, Judgment Day
(Judgment)
You sittin' here chained to your rockin' chair
"Rockin' Chair" is a country ballad in which the singer is an old man sitting in his rocking chair, reminiscing over his past whilst waiting for his inevitable death that he believes is approaching. He asks his son to bring him some gin before he beats him. He says he is chained to his rocking chair and has no means to escape the cabin that he is in. He contemplates over his aunt Harriet's life span and wonders when she would be called to heaven. He desires a sweet chariot to take him away from the end of his troubles. He believes that Judgment Day is almost here and his rocking chair will get it.
Line by Line Meaning
Old rockin' chair's got me
The singer is stuck sitting in an old rocking chair
Cane by my side
The singer has their cane beside them
Fetch me that gin, son
The singer is asking for some gin
'Fore I tan your hide
The singer is threatening to punish someone if they don't get the gin
Can't get from this cabin
The singer is unable to leave the cabin
Ain't go nowhere
The singer is stuck in one place
Just sittin' me here grabbin'
The singer is just sitting there trying to catch flies
At the flies 'round my rockin' chair
The singer is trying to catch flies that are around their rocking chair
Old dear aunt Harriet
The singer is talking about their aunt Harriet
How long to Heaven she be?
The singer is wondering how long until their aunt Harriet goes to Heaven
Send me a sweet chariot
The singer is hoping for an escape from their troubles
For the end of the trouble I see
The singer wants the chariot to take them away from their problems
Old rockin' chair gets it
The singer is talking about how their old rocking chair will not last forever
Judgment Day is almost here
The singer is talking about the end of the world
Chained to my old
The singer is stuck with their old
Rockin' chair
The singer is stuck in their rocking chair
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robbie Robertson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jill Foley
Played this a lot in the sixties - now playing it again and the magic is still there - so much has happened over the years and I am now an old 77 year old lady with grandchildren and still feel the magic when I play it on you tube and not my old dansette record player
- spooky or what? No one can touch Hoagy. Hes the top of the world!
Borretski
I remember when Hoagy visited Britain and was given a broadcast on BBC radio. He was half- way through "The old Music Master" when he forgot the lyrics! (which,I assume, he wrote) He was accompanying himself on the piano and the broadcast was live! Without missing a beat he simply sang with obvious amusement: "and I've forgotten the words....." then he picked up the lyrics again and went on to finish the song. The mark of a real professional! He chuckled about it afterwards.
Shhh! I'm Watching Silent Films.
Hoagy is so smooth here; so talented! Great upload & video.
tuxguys
I'm embarrassed that I didn't know HC had written this...
The more I learn about this hugely-talented fellow, the more impressed I am by him.
(Nice, and surprising, use of the celeste, nice sax fills by Art Pepper.)
Carmichael:
The Third White Guy With Soul.
John Anderson
who are the other two? surely Richard Manuel holds a place. and Left was the funkiest white man of all time!
John Anderson
tuxguys *Levon
John Anderson
tuxguys *Levon
Eustace
Surprisingly, Carmichael was bashed by many musicians of his time. But he was responsible for many legendary tunes.
tuxguys
@John Anderson
I wasn't referring to who had the most, I was referring to which Caucasians got there first...
In reverse order:
3. Carmichael
2. Crosby
1. Jolson
If I were broadening this beyond vocalists, George Gershwin would be tied with Al Jolson for first place.
Aad Juijn
Thank you too!...I agree, this man was outstanding gifted! One of America's greatest musicians. Grtz, Aad