I Shot The Sheriff

[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

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 sherriff, 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