"I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" was written by Billy Yates, Frank Dycus and Kerry Kurt Phillips, and recorded in 1992 by George Jones.
Towards the end of his illustrious career, Jones (known around Nashville by his nickname “Possum”) had become increasingly frustrated by the lack of airplay given by country radio to the works of he and his fellow ‘older country artist folk’. This song was seen as his rather indignant public protest.
Apart from being one of the most awarded country artists of his time, Jones had by then enjoyed a long and colourful commercial career, one of his earliest business pursuits being “Possum Holler” - a Nashville honky tonk barroom he opened in 1967.
Across the alley from the original Grand Ole Opry auditorium, with George’s own resident band on stage in an “open mic” environment, it soon become a regular meeting place for the many aspiring songwriters and performers of the day to play together, pitch new tunes, and generally ‘party it up’ for the benefit of the audience.
Among the regulars were the likes of Roy Acuff, Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Waylon Jennings, and Dottie West. So “Possum Holler” became an institution, widely known as the watering hole for Nashville’s country music ‘family’ - and as a breeding ground for talented musicians.
Given that I have always used the pseudonym “Rockingchair” for my own covers collection, it was inevitable that I would eventually get around to attempting a cover of this George Jones classic.
Apart from that, at my grand old age now, these lyrics seem more than appropriate. However, I would prefer that you ignore the title and message of this song, and continue to want more of this particular "Rockingchair". If you do, then please subscribe!
