Crosscut Saw
Clapton Eric & Otis Rush Lyrics
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Baby, drag me across your log.
I'm a crosscut saw,
Baby, drag me across your log.
I cut your wood so easy for you,
You can't help but say, "Hot Dog!"
Some call me Woodcutting Sam,
The last girl I cut wood for,
She wants me back again.
[Chorus:]
I'm a crosscut saw,
Baby, drag me across your log.
I cut your wood so easy for you,
You can't help but say, "Hot Dog!"
I got a double-bladed axe
That really cuts good.
Well, I'm a crosscut saw,
Gonna bury me in your wood.
[Chorus]
The song “Crosscut Saw” by Eric Clapton and Otis Rush is a blues classic that uses the image of a crosscut saw as a clever metaphor for a man’s sexual prowess. The lyrics describe the singer as a crosscut saw that can easily cut through a woman’s wood, making her unable to help but exclaim “hot dog!” in pleasure. The song’s central metaphor is sexual, but it also refers to the manual labor involved in cutting wood, further emphasizing the singer’s ability to work hard in bed. The lyrics also include references to Woodcutting Sam and Jim, implying the singer’s reputation as a skilled woodcutter who is in high demand.
The song is filled with clever wordplay and double entendres that make it a great example of blues songwriting. It uses the image of a crosscut saw to describe the singer’s strength, skill, and sexual prowess, while also referencing the physical labor of woodcutting. The double-bladed axe is another clever reference to the singer’s skills, suggesting that he is equally adept at pleasing a woman as he is at chopping wood. The lyrics also imply the singer’s sexual experience, as the last girl he cut wood for wants him back again.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a crosscut saw,
I am an efficient and effective tool for cutting wood.
Baby, drag me across your log.
Use me to easily cut through your logs.
I cut your wood so easy for you,
I make cutting wood effortless for you.
You can't help but say, "Hot Dog!"
You'll be surprised and excited by how easy I make it for you to cut wood.
Some call me Woodcutting Sam,
I have different names depending on who you ask.
Some call me Woodcutting Jim.
Others might call me by a different name like Jim.
The last girl I cut wood for,
The last person I helped cut wood for was a girl.
She wants me back again.
She was pleased with my performance and wants to use me again.
[Chorus:]
The main refrain of the song reaffirming that I am an effective crosscut saw.
I got a double-bladed axe
In addition to being a crosscut saw, I also have a double-bladed axe which adds to my versatility.
That really cuts good.
The double-bladed axe is also very effective in cutting wood.
Well, I'm a crosscut saw,
Despite having a double-bladed axe, my primary function is still as a crosscut saw.
Gonna bury me in your wood.
I am so effective at cutting wood that you can use me continuously until I wear out completely.
[Chorus]
The main refrain of the song reaffirming that I am an effective crosscut saw.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: R. G. FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind