Rockin' Chair Swing
Eternal Reflections in a Rockin' Chair: The Mills Brothers' Melancholic Journey
Lyrics
Old rockin' chair's got me, my cane by my side
Feeling stuck and resigned, sitting in an old rocking chair with a cane by one's side.
Fetch me that gin, son, 'fore I tan your hide
Requesting someone to bring gin before facing consequences (tan your hide).
Can't get from this cabin, goin' nowhere
Expressing an inability to leave the cabin, feeling trapped.
Just set me here grabbin' at the flies round this rockin' chair
Sitting idly, swatting at flies around the rocking chair, indicating a state of inertia.
My dear old aunt Harriet, in Heaven she be
Referring to a deceased aunt, asking for a heavenly intervention to end troubles.
Send me sweet chariot, for the end of the trouble I see
Asking for a heavenly chariot to take the speaker away from their troubles.
Old rockin' chair gets it, Judgement Day is here
Suggesting the rocking chair symbolizes facing consequences on Judgment Day.
Chained to my rockin' chair
Feeling metaphorically chained to the rocking chair, possibly burdened by guilt or consequences.
Old rockin' chair's got me, son, (Rocking chair got you, father)
Reiterating the feeling of being trapped by the rocking chair.
My cane by my side, (Yes, your cane by your side)
Highlighting the presence of a cane by the speaker's side.
Now fetch me a little gin, son (Ain't got no gin, father)
Requesting gin again, despite not having any, suggesting a desire for comfort.
What? 'fore I tan your hide, now, (You're gonna tan my hide)
Warning of consequences (tan your hide) for not fulfilling the request.
You know, I can't get from this old cabin (What cabin? joking)
Playfully questioning the speaker's ability to leave the cabin.
I ain't goin' nowhere (Why ain't you goin' nowhere?)
Responding to the playful inquiry, emphasizing the lack of motivation to go anywhere.
Just sittin' me here grabbin' (Grabbin')
Continuing to sit idly and swat at flies, highlighting a sense of monotony.
At the flies round this old rockin' chair (Rockin' chair)
Repeating the image of swatting flies around the rocking chair, emphasizing inertia.
Now you remember dear old aunt Harriet, (Aunt Harriet)
Recalling the deceased aunt and seeking divine intervention.
How long in Heaven she be? (She's up in Heaven)
Confirming the aunt's presence in heaven.
Send me down, send me down sweet (Sweet chariot) chariot
Requesting a heavenly chariot to end the speaker's troubles.
End of this trouble I see (I see, Daddy)
Acknowledging the end of troubles through the heavenly intervention.
Old rockin' chair gets it, son (Rocking chair get it, father)
Reiterating the rocking chair as a symbol of facing consequences on Judgment Day.
Judgement Day is here, too (Your Judgement Day is here)
Acknowledging the arrival of Judgment Day for the speaker.
Chained to my rockin', old rockin' chair
Emphasizing being metaphorically chained to the old rocking chair on Judgment Day.
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