Rockin' Chair
Garcia Jerry & Grisman David Lyrics
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Cane by my side
Fetch me that gin, son
'Fore I tan your hide
Can't get from this cabin
Ain't goin' nowhere
Just sitting here [grabbing?]
At them flies round this old rockin' chair
My dear old aunt Harriet
Up in heaven she be
Send down sweet chariot
For the end of these troubles I see
Old rockin' chair
Judgement day is near
I'm chained to that old rockin' chair
[repeat all above]
Chained to that old rockin' chair
The lyrics of "Rockin' Chair" by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman are about an elderly person who is confined to his cabin, sitting in his old rockin' chair, and waiting for death to come. The opening lines "Old rockin' chair's got me, cane by my side" instantly indicate the individual's age and physical limitations. He cannot move and depends on a cane. He demands his son to bring him gin to numb his pain, threatening to whip him if he disobeys. The verses reflect the individual's resignation to his condition, his inability to escape or do anything else, and his loneliness. The individual's longing for death is expressed with the lines "My dear old aunt Harriet, Up in heaven, she be, Send down sweet chariot, For the end of these troubles I see." In the end, the individual acknowledges that he has been left with no choice and therefore is “chained to that old rockin' chair," waiting for his ultimate judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
Old rockin' chair's got me
I'm feeling trapped and stuck in this old rocking chair.
Cane by my side
I have my cane nearby indicating my old age and limitation of mobility.
Fetch me that gin, son
I want you to get me some gin, and I'm calling you son as a term of endearment since you're going to do me a favor.
'Fore I tan your hide
I'll threaten you with a punishment if you don't get me my gin quickly.
Can't get from this cabin
I may be feeling cooped up in this cabin, indicating that I'm in a rural area, far from civilization.
Ain't goin' nowhere
I don't have any plans to move or travel any time soon.
Just sitting here [grabbing?]
I'm sitting here trying to grab or shoo away the pesky flies that are bothering me.
At them flies round this old rockin' chair
I'm annoyed with the flies that are persistently buzzing around me and my chair.
My dear old aunt Harriet
I'm talking about my deceased Aunt Harriet who I had strong feelings for.
Up in heaven she be
I believe that my Aunt Harriet is in a better place now, in heaven.
Send down sweet chariot
I'm calling for the heavens to send a chariot to take me away from this world and take me to join my Aunt in heaven.
For the end of these troubles I see
I see that the end of these troubles is coming, and I'm ready for it.
Old rockin' chair
I'm back to describing my old rocking chair that I can't leave.
Judgement day is near
I believe that my time on earth is coming to an end and that judgement day is drawing close.
I'm chained to that old rockin' chair
I'm feeling stuck and unable to move on from this old chair, and it's a physical representation of my feelings of being chained to my past and awaiting judgement day.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robbie Robertson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind