"Sly Mongoose" and "I Shot the Sheriff"

[Morwen Edhelwen]

So, wondered about these song-related questions. What's the origin of the verses about Bedward's daughter in some versions of Sly Mongoose? All my Googling turns up claims about an unnamed man (con artist) supposed to have "seduced one of the prophet Bedward's followers" or "bought the affections of one of Bedward's daughters". Wikipedia and other articles and books with information on Alexander Bedward (found through Google Books) don't say anything about him having any children, so maybe the daughter thing is metaphorical?

What about "I Shot The Sheriff?" Is that religious as well as political?-I get how shooting the sheriff is anti-authoritarian, but I read somewhere (Songfacts) that it also has religious significance- the sheriff's a metaphor for what Rastas are opposed to, a symbol of Babylon.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: "Sly Mongoose" and "I Shot the Sheriff"

Go to Jamaica and talk to an informed oldtimer. I think like much of the sayings in Jamaica these are Proverbs that has no relationship to the literal words used. Shooting the sheriff has no relationship to shooting, authority or religion. Sly mongoose is an old Jamaican saying similar to sly fox with similar meaning.