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 hometown
They 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 (the sheriff)
But I swear it was in self defense (no, no)
Ooh, ooh, ooh (yeah, I said)
I shot the sheriff (oh, Lord)
And they say it is a capital offense (oh now, yeah)
Ooh, ooh, ooh (yeah, hear this)
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what? I don't know
Every time I plant a seed
He said, "Kill it before it grows"
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 defense (where was the deputy?)
Ooh, ooh, ooh (I said)
I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in self defense
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
I shot the sheriff (but I say)
But I didn't shoot no deputy (I didn't shoot no deputy, no)
Oh, no, oh
I shot the sheriff (I did)
But I didn't shoot no deputy (oh)
Ooh, ooh, ooh (yeah)
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
I say
I, I, I, I shot the sheriff
Lord, I didn't shoot the deputy, no
Yeah, I, I (shot the sheriff)
But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah
So, yeah