Rocking Chair
Eric Clapton琀 Lyrics
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Fetch me that gin, son, 'fore I tan your hide
Get from this cabin, I ain't goin' nowhere
Sittin' here grabbin' at the flies round this rockin' chair
Remember old aunt Harriet, how long in Heaven she be
Send down my chariot, for the end of my troubles I see
Old rockin' chair got me, Judgement Day is almost here
Can get from this cabin, I ain't goin' nowhere
Sittin' here grabbin' at the flies round this rockin' chair
Remember old aunt Harriet, how long in Heaven she be
Please send down that chariot, for the end of my troubles I see
Old rockin' chair got me, Judgement Day' almost here
Chained to my old rockin' chair
Chained to my old rockin' chair
The lyrics to Eric Clapton's "Rocking Chair" tell the story of an old man who is stuck in his cabin, sitting in his rocking chair. The man has become so attached to his chair that he feels as though he is chained to it, unable to move or leave. The man reflects on his life, perhaps feeling as though he has nowhere to go and nothing to do but wait for his final judgement day. He even calls for his gin to be brought to him, demonstrating a sense of resignation to his fate.
The lyrics also reference a woman named Aunt Harriet, who is in heaven. The singer pleads with her to "send down that chariot" to take him away from his troubles. This sense of longing for heaven or escape from the burdens of life is a common theme in blues music, and in this song, it resonates particularly strongly.
Line by Line Meaning
Old rockin' chair's got me, my cane by my side
I am stuck in this old worn-out rocking chair and I am too old to move around without the cane that is always by my side.
Fetch me that gin, son, 'fore I tan your hide
Bring me some gin quickly, boy, before I discipline you for not obeying my command.
Get from this cabin, I ain't goin' nowhere
Leave me alone in this cabin, I have no desire to go anywhere.
Sittin' here grabbin' at the flies round this rockin' chair
I am sitting here waving my hands around trying to shoo away the annoying flies that keep buzzing around my face.
Remember old aunt Harriet, how long in Heaven she be
I can't stop thinking about my dear aunt Harriet and how long she has been resting in heaven.
Send down my chariot, for the end of my troubles I see
I pray to God to send me a chariot to take me away from all my worries and struggles that I have been facing.
Old rockin' chair got me, Judgement Day is almost here
I feel trapped and almost defeated by this rocking chair and I can sense that my day of judgement is closing in on me.
Chained to my old rockin' chair
I am metaphorically restrained to this old rocking chair and I feel like I can't escape from it.
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