Rockin' Chair
Louis Armstrong & Jack Teagarden Lyrics


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Old rockin' chair's got me, my cane by my side
Fetch me that gin, son, 'fore I tan your hide
Can't get from this cabin, goin' nowhere
Just set me here grabbin' at the flies 'round this rockin' chair

My dear old aunt Harriet--in Heaven she be
Send me, sweet chariot, for the end of the trouble I see
Old rockin' chair gets it--Judgement Day is here
Chained to my rockin' chair

Old rockin' chair's got me, son, (rocking chair got you, father)
My cane by my side, (Yes, your cane by your side)
Now fetch me a little gin, son (ain't got no gin, father)
What? 'Fore I tan your hide, now, (you're gonna tan my hide)

You know I can't get from this old cabin (What cabin? Joking)
I ain't goin' nowhere (Why ain't you goin' nowhere?)
Just sittin' me here grabbin' (grabbin')
At the flies round this old rockin' chair (rockin' chair)

Now you remember dear old aunt Harriet (aunt Harriet)
How long in Heaven she be? (She's up in Heaven)
Send me down, send me down, sweet (sweet chariot) chariot
End of this trouble I see (I see, daddy)

Old rockin' chair gets it, son (rocking chair get it, father)




Judgement Day is here too (your Judgement Day is here)
Chained to my rockin', old rockin' chair

Overall Meaning

The song "Rockin' Chair" painted a picture of old age and the weariness that comes with it. It starts with the singer expressing how stuck he is in his cabin; he can't go anywhere, he's just grabbing flies around his rocking chair. The singer asks for some gin, but the son responds that there's no gin available. The singer threatens to tan the son's hide if he doesn't get him some gin. The second verse implies that the singer is aware of the end of his life. He asks for a sweet chariot to be sent down from Heaven to take him away from his troubles. Finally, in the last verse, the singer realizes that his judgment day is coming, and he is chained to his rocking chair, stuck and waiting for his inevitable end.


The song is a reflection of the struggles that come with old age. The singer's weariness is palpable, and his request for a drink indicates a desire to numb the pain, to escape his physical and emotional limitations. However, it's interesting to note that the singer is aware of his mortality and is ready for his "sweet chariot" to take him away. The song is a poignant reminder of the inevitability of aging and the importance of cherishing the time we have.


Line by Line Meaning

Old rockin' chair's got me, son,
The father is stuck in this old rocking chair


My cane by my side,
The father has his cane next to him


Now fetch me a little gin, son
The father wants his son to bring him some gin, or else he'll get angry


What? 'Fore I tan your hide, now,
The father is threatening to hit his son if he doesn't get the gin


You know I can't get from this old cabin
The father is trapped in this cabin, unable to leave


I ain't goin' nowhere
The father has resigned himself to his situation


Just sittin' me here grabbin'
The father is swatting at the flies around him


At the flies round this old rockin' chair
The father is annoyed by the flies that keep bothering him


Now you remember dear old aunt Harriet
The father is reminding his son of his dead aunt Harriet


How long in Heaven she be?
The father is wondering how long his aunt has been in heaven


Send me down, send me down, sweet chariot
The father is asking God to take him to heaven


End of this trouble I see
The father is ready for his pain and suffering to end


Old rockin' chair gets it, son
The father knows his time is running out


Judgement Day is here too
The father knows that he's going to face judgement for his life


Chained to my rockin', old rockin' chair
The father feels trapped and stuck in his old rocking chair




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Johnnycdrums

I was unaware of that.
Did Jack Teagarden front a big band for a TV special, or TV series?
I seem to remember something like from my childhood.


Another question; Why don't we ever see Louie Armstrong and Red Allen together?
They both were great and from the same era, and when it comes right down to it, I'll take Red Allen, but then again, I'm not a trumpet man.


On another note; In my opinion, Roy Eldridge of The Gene Krupa Band performed the best version of "Rockin' Chair", by far, but it is an instrumental and because of that fact, does not have the same impact or gravitas of Armstrong and Teagarden, except for me, It's that good.
You appreciate Eldridge more after hearing it sung, although I fell in love with the Roy Eldridge iteration way before hearing Louis and Jack, or Hoagy sing it.



All comments from YouTube:

@robertpea124

Two gentlemen who had the utmost respect for each other let us enjoy their duet with pure improvisation. Priceless

@bigchungus2063

Nothing better than Louis and Jack ❀❀❀

@paulgibby6932

Epic duo

@bobdillaber1195

I was 16 years old when fate gave me the opportunity to see Louis perform in person at a concert at Notre Dame Univesity. That was in 1956. Something I have never forgotten and never will.

@63Baggies

It's been said by a greater writer than I, that Louis Armstrong was one of the few artists who could record a smile

@wonderwen

So true ! There was such a warmth and joy to his singing ! ❀

@Timathos

I read your message 8 years later and it will stick with me the rest of my life. You can definitely hear his smile on my old 78’s

@jameswalton3930

@@Timathos A World treasure, America 's "Kang Louie" R.I.P. Mr. Louis Armstrong, you and Gabriel would be a perfect cutting match. 🙂
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@Bfdasmith

Beautiful! Thanks!

@knaziringram4589

"You know you don't drink water father..." great song performed by two truly amazing beings

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