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
Yeah

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
But I say

I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in self defense
I shot the sheriff
And they say it is a capital offense

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

I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in self defense
I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in self defense

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

I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy
Yeah


Reflexes 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 no deputy
Yeah, I - I (shot the sheriff)
But I didn't shoot no deputy
Yeah, so, yeah