Rockin' Chair Swing
Mills Brother 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 Mills Brothers' hit song "Rockin' Chair Swing" is a melancholic tune about an elderly man stuck in a cabin, living out the last days of his life in a rocking chair. The first verse opens with the man's cane resting by his side as he asks his son to fetch him a drink of gin, warning him of a potential punishment if he fails to do so. The following lines describe his confinement to the cabin, which has become his entire world; he spends his days swatting at flies circling around him as he rocks back and forth in his chair. The second verse describes his yearning for the afterlife, which he sees as a way out of his predicament. He calls on his deceased Aunt Harriet to send him a "sweet chariot," signaling that he is ready to be freed from his earthly struggles and join her in heaven. The final line reinforces his entrapment, as he is "chained to his rockin' old rocking chair" and unable to escape.

The Mills Brothers' "Rockin' Chair Swing" has stood the test of time and remains a classic song in the jazz and swing genres. The lyrics and melody evoke a feeling of nostalgia and melancholy, but they also showcase the beauty of simplicity and the importance of family. The song is a testament to the power of music to connect listeners across generations and evoke emotions that transcend time.

Line by Line Meaning

Old rockin' chair's got me, son,
The old rocking chair has me trapped, son,

My cane by my side,
My cane is lying next to me,

Now fetch me a little gin, son
Please get me some gin, son

What? 'fore I tan your hide, now,
What did you say? Hurry up, or I will punish you,

You know, I can't get from this old cabin
I cannot leave this cabin

I ain't goin' nowhere
I am stuck here,

Just sittin' me here grabbin'
I am just sitting here, swatting,

At the flies round this old rockin' chair
The flies are bothering me near the rocking chair

Now you remember dear old aunt Harriet,
Do you remember Aunt Harriet?

How long in Heaven she be?
How long has she been in Heaven?

Send me down, send me down sweet chariot
Send a sweet chariot to take me away