I Shot The Sheriff

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

Yeah! All around in my home town

They're tryin' 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

(I shot the sheriff) I shot the sheriff

(But I swear it was in self-defence) oh no, oh, oh, ooh

Yeah, I say, I shot the sheriff oh, Lord (and they say it is a capital offence)

Yeah, yeah! Hear that

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!

(I shot the sheriff) oh, Lord!

But I swear it was in self-defence

Where was the deputy? (Ooh, ooh, ooh)

I say, I shot the sheriff

But I swear it was in self-defence, yeah! (Ooh)

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...)

(I shot the sheriff) but I say but I didn't shoot no deputy

I didn't shoot no deputy, no (ooh, ooh, ooh)

(I shot the sheriff) I agree

(But I didn't shoot no deputy) oh

(Ooh, ooh, ooh)

Reflexes had got 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

I say

I, I, I, I shot the sheriff

Lord, I didn't shot the deputy, no

I, I (shot the sheriff)

But I didn't shoot no deputy yeah

So, yeah