Born Maria Garzia Rosa Domenica d'Amato on 12th September 1943 in Greenwich Village, New York, she performed in the early 1960s in Greenwich Village with Bob Dylan, John Sebastian, David Grisman, and Stefan Grossman. Later in the 1960s her distinctive vocals were heard in many of the tracks recorded by Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band.
She began her solo career in 1972 when her marriage to fellow Jug Band member Geoff Muldaur ended, retaining her married name. Her first solo album "Maria Muldaur", released in 1973, contained her hit single "Midnight at the Oasis", which reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. It also peaked at number 21 in the UK Singles Chart. Later that year, she released her second album Waitress In A Donut Shop. This included a re-recording of "I'm a Woman", the Leiber and Stoller number first associated with Peggy Lee and a standout feature from her Jug Band days. The title of this album is taken from a line in another song on the album, "Sweetheart" by Ken Burgan.
Around this time, Muldaur established a relationship with the Grateful Dead. Opening for some Grateful Dead shows in the summer of 1974, with John Kahn, bassist of the Jerry Garcia Band, would eventually earn her a seat in that group in the late 1970s, as a backing vocalist.
Later in her career, as her voice deepened, the blues were featured in more of her recordings. Her 2005 release Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul was nominated for both a W.C. Handy Award and a Grammy award in the Traditional Blues Category.
In 2011 she released the album "Steady Love".
Rockin' Chair
Maria Muldaur Lyrics
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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
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
The song "Rockin' Chair" by Maria Muldaur is a poignant portrayal of an aging man's acceptance of his own impending death. The old man sits in his rocking chair, unable to move or go anywhere, and requests his son to fetch him some gin before he tans his hide. The sense of entrapment is highlighted by his inability to escape his cabin and his constant swatting at the flies that surround him. The allusion to "Old aunt Harriet" is a metaphorical request for a peaceful end to his troubles. The repetition of "chained to my rockin' chair" portrays the inevitability of death and the man's acceptance of it.
The lyrics are a melancholic reflection on the inevitability of death and the feelings of entrapment that come with old age. The man's request for gin and his son's refusal to fetch it is a subtle commentary on the intergenerational gap between the elderly and their children. The song is a reminder for younger generations to be compassionate towards their elders and to be mindful of the burdens that come with old age.
Line by Line Meaning
Old rockin' chair's got me, son
The singer is stuck in their old age and feels trapped by their rocking chair.
My cane by my side
The singer uses a cane to help with mobility.
Now fetch me a little gin, son
The singer is requesting a drink of gin.
'fore I tan your hide, now
The artist is using humour to express their frustration.
You know, I can't get from this old cabin
The artist is physically limited, likely due to old age or health issues, and unable to leave their cabin.
I ain't goin' nowhere
The singer's sense of confinement is emphasized with the repetition of this line.
Just sittin' me here grabbin'
The singer is bored and restless, indicated by their aimless swatting at flies.
At the flies round this old rockin' chair
The artist's attitude of helplessness is demonstrated in their focus on something as trivial as flies.
Now you remember dear old aunt Harriet,
The artist reminisces about their past and someone important to them.
How long in Heaven she be?
The artist wonders how much time has passed since their loved one has passed away and gone to Heaven.
Send me down, send me down sweet chariot
The singer is ready to go to Heaven and escape the pain of their current situation.
End of this trouble I see
The artist believes their salvation will come with death.
Old rockin' chair gets it, son
The singer is acknowledging that they won't be alive for much longer.
Judgement Day is here, too
The singer feels that their time of reckoning is approaching.
Chained to my rockin', old rockin' chair
The singer is figuratively and emotionally trapped in their current life, unable to break free from their dependence on the rocking chair and seemingly meaningless existence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robbie Robertson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind