McPherson grew up in rural southeastern Oklahoma, on a cattle ranch near the town of Talihina. His father was a farmer and ex-army while his mother was a church minister. He took up the guitar at age 13. In high school he played in a number of local punk rock bands and began writing his own songs. He has stated that he has never not been in a band of some sort since he was 16 years of age.
During this time, McPherson also developed a strong interest in 1950s rock and roll after being exposed to the music of Buddy Holly. This went on to shape his song writing and sound for bands he was in such as The Poison Okies and The Starkweather Boys.
He studied visual arts in college, earning a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Tulsa, and later worked as an art and technology teacher. After deciding to pursue music more seriously, McPherson sent a demo to Jimmy Sutton of the small independent record label Hi-STYLE Records, which specialized in roots music. Sutton agreed to produce McPherson's debut album: this became 2010's Signs and Signifiers. On 19 November 2012, Rolling Stone labelled McPherson an "Artist to Watch" in a 3½ star (out of 5) review of Signs and Signifiers after its wider release through Rounder Records.
The band played the acoustic stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2015 on Friday June 26, before continuing their European tour in the Netherlands.
In October 2015, JD McPherson and band appeared (in animated form) as musical guests performing a new and original song "Crazy Horse" for the DreamWorks animated TV series, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show on Netflix.
Scratching Circles
JD McPherson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll meet you by the Old Creek Road
We'll hit the VFW by the Tuskahoma line
When the band lays down the first hot note
Hot Licks
Cheap kicks
Pretty women
It's a real short trip
Scratchin' circles on the old dance floor
We're scratchin' out the beat with the leather on our feet,
Drawing circles on the hard concrete
Spinning with the salty rhythm and the moves are gonna get 'em
Just a churning and shaking like the deep blue sea
Rollin' the rock in the salt candy shop
A sweet and savory treat
With a little bit of grit and one or two nips
I'm gonna jump and shuffle to my feet
JD McPherson's song "Scratching Circles" is all about the excitement and thrill of dancing the night away to some good old rock and roll music. The lyrics speak of a spontaneous plan made by the singer to meet someone special by the Old Creek Road and head over to the VFW near the Tuskahoma line to catch a live show. As soon as the band strikes up the first hot note, the dancers hit the floor with their leather shoes, scratching circles on the old dance floor with their moves.
The lyrics emphasize the joy of the dancing experience, as they mention the hot licks, cheap kicks, and pretty women that make it all worthwhile. The dancers are described as drawing circles on the hard concrete with their leather shoes, completely lost in the rhythm of the music. The movement and energy of the dance floor is compared to the deep blue sea, with the dancers churning and shaking in sync with the salty rhythm.
Line by Line Meaning
When I get an inkling in the middle of the evening
When I get a sudden idea in the evening
I'll meet you by the Old Creek Road
I'll meet you on the Old Creek Road
We'll hit the VFW by the Tuskahoma line
We'll go to the VFW near the Tuskahoma line
When the band lays down the first hot note
When the band starts playing the first upbeat note
Hot Licks
Exciting guitar riffs
Cheap kicks
Affordable thrills
Pretty women
Attractive ladies
It's a real short trip
It's a brief journey
Rock salt by the door
Salt for the floor
Scratchin' circles on the old dance floor
Dancing in circles on the old dance floor
We're scratchin' out the beat with the leather on our feet,
We're tapping out the rhythm with our leather shoes
Drawing circles on the hard concrete
Making circles on the sturdy concrete floor
Spinning with the salty rhythm and the moves are gonna get 'em
Dancing quickly to the salty rhythm and getting into the groove
Just a churning and shaking like the deep blue sea
Dancing wildly, like the turbulent ocean waves
Rollin' the rock in the salt candy shop
Having a good time, like being in a candy store
A sweet and savory treat
A pleasurable experience
With a little bit of grit and one or two nips
With some determination and enthusiasm
I'm gonna jump and shuffle to my feet
I'm going to dance with enthusiasm
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JAMES E SUTTON, JONATHAN DAVID JR MCPHERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
joncaddy
When my daughter was two years old she would dance (in her own way) around the room when ever I played 'Let the good times Roll' and ignore most other music. Now, 2 years later she can't sit still when 'Scratchin Circles' is played.
That girl has great taste in music. 👍
Belafonte
omg! these guys are amazing! sooo good to hear some real music in such updated years like 2014.. feels sooo damn good right now! officially my favorite group of the year =D
Antonella ex-01
Blea
Frankie
I love this song. Love it. Have the album. Play it all the time. Played this song a hundred times maybe. Play it for friends and family. Love it. Love it. Did I mention that I love it? Well, I do! BUT……
… how on God’s green Earth do some of the people in the audience just stand there unmoved? How do some only clap their hands? How do some of the livelier ones only sway or bop a little bit? How do they not dance like crazy MFs to this dance-like-crazy toe-tappin’ rock ‘n’ roll song? Their grandparents would be amazed at their lack of exhilarative joy and passion upon hearing this music. Their grandparents back in their day would be swingin’ like mad in a rock ‘n’ roll frenzy ACTUALLY scratching’ circles into that ol’ dance floor. There’d be so many scratches, and those scratches would be so deep, that that darn floor would have to replaced the very next day!
So be like your grandparents, kids! Show some verve. Get some gusto. Have some vigour, some pep, some dynamism, some zest, some fire! Now that’s what I’m talking about!!!
Frankie
@Barney Boyle 🤷🏻♂
Barney Boyle
I love the song as much as you do. I play multiple instruments. I compose my own music. I walk around my house singing all the time.
But I don’t dance. I just don’t. I’ll go to a show like this and just sorta rock in place and maybe tap my foot. When the song is over I’ll cheer and clap. I won’t dance though. It’s just not for me
Made In Network
If you don't want to dance when you hear this, that's fine, but you're wrong.
Eddie Last
Definite dance. Whats wrong with these people?
Thomas Fisher
@Made In Network If you don't want to dance to this, then you're dead, but don't know it yet!
Philip Winterburn
Great music Rock & Roll will never die