ROCKIN' CHAIR
(Hoagy Carmichael)

Louis Armstrong with Hoagy Carmichael - 1929
The Mills Brothers - 1932
Mildred Bailey - 1937
Gene Krupa & His Orch. - 1941
Lonnie Johnson - 1967

Also recorded by: Bix Beiderbecke; King Cole Trio;
Crystal Gayle; Casa Loma Orch; Peggy Lee; Hi-Lo's;
George Melly; Bing Crosby; Barbara Lea; Lou Rawls;
Tex Beneke & Orch; Ray Bryant; Larry Clinton Orch;
Rosemary Clooney; Maria Muldaur; Roy Eldridge Orch;
Duke Ellington Orch; Nat Gonella; Prudence Johnson;
Marian McPartland; Paul riobeson: ..... and others.


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


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As recorded by Louis Armstrong & Hoagy Carmichael:


HOAGY: Old rockin' chair's got me
LOUIS: Old rockin' chair gotcha, father
HOAGY: My cane by my side
LOUIS: And your cane is by your side
HOAGY: Fetch me that gin, son
LOUIS: I ain't got no gin, father
HOAGY: I'm gonna tan your hide now
LOUIS: You're gonna tan my hide
HOAGY: I can't leave this cabin
LOUIS: What cabin? Jokin' fellows
HOAGY: I ain't goin' nowhere
LOUIS: You ain't goin' nowhere, wooah
HOAGY: Just sit me here grabbin'
LOUIS: Grabbin'
HOAGY: Grabbin' at the flies round this rockin' chair
LOUIS: Rockin' chair, oh Lord
HOAGY: My dear old aunt Harriet
LOUIS: Aunt Harriet
HOAGY: How long in heaven she be?
LOUIS: Heaven she be, be-da-zo-woh
HOAGY: Just send that sweet chariot
LOUIS: Oh, chariot
HOAGY: For the end of the troubles I see
LOUIS: My sweet Cherie
HOAGY: Old rockin' chair gets it, son
LOUIS: Old rockin' chair git it, father
HOAGY: Judgement day is near
LOUIS: And judgement day is here
HOAGY: And I'm chained, chained to my rockin' chair


(Contributed by Bill Huntley - February 2005)


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