Jericho Lyrics
That's a promise that I made to love
When it was new
Just like Jericho
I said, "Let these walls come tumblin' down"
I said it like I finally found a way
To keep these good feelings alive
I said it like it was something to strive for
And approve your self-expression
I need that too
I need your confidence, baby
And the gift of your extra time
And in turn, I'll give you mine
Sweet darlin'
It's a rich exchange, it seems to me
It's a warm arrangement
Just how hard it is
To make and keep a friend
Maybe they'll short-sell you
Or maybe it's you,
Judas, in the end
When you just can no longer pretend
That you're getting what you need
Or you're giving out anything for them
To grow and feed on
It gets easier and easier
To do
Just like Jericho
Let these walls come tumblin' down now
Let them fall right on the ground
Let all these dogs go running free
The wild and the gentle dogs
Kenneled in me
This song is about the singer's contract of intent towards love as a concept, and her current love in particular. This intent is hopeful and high-minded, idealistic in the way you can be before your first real experience of love or at the start of a new relationship, when all things seem possible.
The first verse looks back on her first aspirations towards love ('...a promise that I made to love/When it was new'). She's saying that when in love, her ideal was to be open and undefended, like Jericho with its fallen walls. She identifies herself with Jericho, and is willing her own walls to fall.
She's already into a relationship by the second verse, still aiming for that openness in herself and supporting and encouraging it in her partner, asking openly for what she needs, offering the same in return in '...a warm arrangement.' She sees their dismantled walls as enabling 'a rich exchange'.
The third verse, the bridge, is the voice of experience, even of pessimism. 'Anyone will tell you...' that when you open yourself up fully to another person, you make yourself vulnerable; you risk being hurt, and may find your openness not being returned ('Maybe they'll short sell you'), or even betrayed (Judas, who betrayed with a kiss). And if the other person isn't nourishing the relationship from their side, you may find yourself closing up as well.
The last verse is full of optimism about the current relationship. This time it seems to be different, it's getting to the point where she trusts him enough to be completely open, to let out all the bad and good things she's been keeping inside, and to make herself fully known to him.
This song means getting used to the new lover in your life, or maybe even just getting used to loving in general. And not just intimacy, but becoming emotionally connected with someone, bonding. There is also a burning desire to care for someone in this song. It's as though Joni wants whole-heartedly to let loose a passion inside of her, a true desire to bestow love upon a person and make them happy + well looked-after.
This song means getting used to the new lover in your life, or maybe even just getting used to loving in general. And not just intimacy, but becoming emotionally connected with someone, bonding. There is also a burning desire to care for someone in this song. It's as though Joni wants whole-heartedly to let loose a passion inside of her, a true desire to bestow love upon a person and make them happy + well looked-after.