"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Bob Marley. The song was first released on The Wailers' album Burnin'.
Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his album, 461 Ocean Boulevard. It is the most successful version of the song, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Clapton's only chart-topping hit in the U.S.
I want to say 'I shot the police' but the government would have made a fuss so I said 'I shot the sheriff' instead... but it's the same idea: justice." — Bob Marley Read more on Last.fm.
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I Shot the Sheriff Lyrics
Bob Marley here tells a story from the point of view of a narrator who admits to having killed the local sheriff, and claims to be falsely accused of having killed the deputy .… Read More
[Chorus]
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh, no, oh
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, ooh
[Verse 1]
Yeah, all around in my home town
They're trying to track me down, yeah
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For the killing of a deputy
For the life of a deputy
But I say
Oh, now, now, oh
[Chorus]
I shot the sheriff, the sheriff
But I swear it was in self-defense, oh no
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
I say, I shot the sheriff, oh, Lord
And they say it is a capital offense, yeah
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
[Verse 2]
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what, I don't know
Every time I plant a seed
He said kill it before it grow
He said kill them before they grow
And so, and so
Read it in the news
[Chorus]
I shot the sheriff, oh, Lord
But I swear it was in self-defense
Where was the deputy? Ooh, ooh, ooh
I say, I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in self-defense, yeah
Ooh-ooh
[Verse 3]
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah
All of a sudden, I saw Sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot, I shot him down and I say
If I am guilty, I will pay (Pay, pay, pay, pay, pay)
[Chorus]
I shot the sheriff
But I say, but I didn't shoot no deputy
I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no, ooh, ooh, ooh
I shot the sheriff, I did
But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
[Verse 4]
Reflexes had the better of me
And what is to be must be
Every day the bucket a-go a well
One day, the bottom a-go drop out
One day, the bottom a-go drop out
[Outro]
I say
I-I-I, I shot the sheriff
Lord, I didn't shot the deputy, no
Yeah, I-I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah, so, yeah
🎸
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