Sawtoothed Jericho
Pony Bradshaw Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Far Appalachia ‘cross to St. Simons Sound
Jean Rousseau, I hope we’ve done you proud
Catfish skin white and lacquered thin
Come down from the hills with your shirt tucked in

Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho
She’s moonshine drunk hanging all over me
These rituals

Them dark spells
Come on cast ‘em mama
Ain’t no shaman but I’ll wade through the slough & the scruff
Cause going to water ain’t enough

Sweating out the milkweed in Rabun County
We were born from the myth don’t you ever doubt it
On the slaughter-bench of history gasping for air
Sequoyah plays lacrosse with a ball made of hair

Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho
She’s moonshine drunk hanging all over me
These rituals
Them dark spells
Come on cast ‘em mama
Ain’t no shaman but I’ll wade through the slough & the scruff
Cause going to water ain’t enough

Bought me a setter out of Ellijay
A tri-colored Llewelyn six-months trained
Flush him a covey he can run them fields
I’d pawn my fiddle for to go his bail
Cause we like the chase of that Holy Grail
Yeah, we like the taste of that bobwhite quail
Yeah, we like the taste of that bobwhite quail
Yeah, we like the taste of that bobwhite quail

Housekeeping with my best gal Rose
The lastingest dog you will ever know
Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho

Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho
Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Sawtoothed Jericho" are a poetic representation of the deep connection that the artist, Pony Bradshaw, feels to his roots and heritage. He sings about the rural areas in Georgia, where he comes from, referencing places like "Far Appalachia 'cross to St. Simons Sound" and "Rabun County," linking them to his identity. The song is a tribute to his ancestors, as he alludes to Jean Rousseau, perhaps a family name, hoping they have done him proud.

The second verse of the song is a commentary on the complicated history and struggles of the region. Bradshaw sings about how his people were "born from the myth," meaning that they were part of a narrative and history that preceded them. He references the "slaughter-bench of history" and the role that the indigenous Cherokee leader, Sequoyah, played in this history. Despite this complicated history, Bradshaw remains connected to his heritage, and he wades through "the slough & the scruff" to preserve it.

Finally, the song discusses some of the joys of rural life, such as hunting birds with his beloved dog and playing music with friends. The recurring refrain of "Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho" is a celebration of the wildness and unpredictability of life. Overall, the song is a rich and complex meditation on the ties between a person and their heritage, and the many layers of meaning that can arise from such a connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Far Appalachia ‘cross to St. Simons Sound
From the Appalachian Mountains all the way to St. Simons Sound

Jean Rousseau, I hope we’ve done you proud
I hope we have honored you, Jean Rousseau

Catfish skin white and lacquered thin
The skin of the catfish is white and glossy

Come down from the hills with your shirt tucked in
Leave the hills with your shirt neatly tucked in

Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho
Hurry, locate the sawtoothed Jericho

She’s moonshine drunk hanging all over me
She's heavily intoxicated from moonshine and clinging to me

These rituals
These traditions and customs

Them dark spells
Those mysterious incantations

Come on cast ‘em mama
Go ahead and perform those spells, mama

Ain’t no shaman but I’ll wade through the slough & the scruff
I am not a shaman, but I will courageously slog through the mire and rough terrain

Cause going to water ain’t enough
Simply taking a dip in water won't suffice

Sweating out the milkweed in Rabun County
Working hard in Rabun County

We were born from the myth don’t you ever doubt it
Our origins are rooted in myth - never question it

On the slaughter-bench of history gasping for air
In the midst of historical turmoil, barely surviving

Sequoyah plays lacrosse with a ball made of hair
Imagery of Sequoyah, the Native American figure, playing lacrosse with a hairball

Bought me a setter out of Ellijay
I purchased a setter from Ellijay

A tri-colored Llewelyn six-months trained
A six-month-old tri-colored Llewelyn that's been trained

Flush him a covey he can run them fields
He can flush out a covey of birds and run in the fields

I’d pawn my fiddle for to go his bail
I care enough about him to put up my fiddle as collateral for his release

Cause we like the chase of that Holy Grail
We enjoy the pursuit of that ultimate goal

Yeah, we like the taste of that bobwhite quail
We enjoy the flavor of the bobwhite quail

Housekeeping with my best gal Rose
Cleaning up the house with my best friend Rose

The lastingest dog you will ever know
The most loyal dog you will ever meet

Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho
Hurry, locate the sawtoothed Jericho

Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho
Hurry, locate the sawtoothed Jericho

Quick, find the sawtoothed Jericho
Hurry, locate the sawtoothed Jericho

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James Bradshaw, OurVinyl

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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