I Shot the Sheriff

I shot the sheriff

But I didn't shoot no deputy

I shot the sheriff

But I didn't shoot no deputy

All around in my home town

They're tryin' 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

I say:

I shot the sheriff

But I swear it was in selfdefence

I shot the sheriff

(And they say it is a capital offence )

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:

(I shot the sheriff )

(But I swear it was in self-defence )

I shot the sheriff

But I swear it was in selfdefence

Freedom came my way one day

And I started out of town

All of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown

Aiming to shoot me down

So I shot

I shot him down and I say:

(I shot the sheriff )

(But I didn't shoot no deputy)

I shot the sheriff

But I didn't shot the deputy

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 shot the sheriff

But I didn't shot the deputy

I shot the sheriff

But I didn't shot the deputy