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 hometown

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, but I swear it was in self defense

Ooh, ooh, ooh

I said, I shot the sheriff, Oh Lord

And they say it is a capital offense

Ooh, ooh, ooh

Hear this

Sheriff John Brown always hated me

For what I don't know

Ev'ry time I plant a seed

He said, "Kill it before it grows."

He said, "Kill them before they grow."

And so, oh, now, now

Read it in the news

I shot the sheriff, 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

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

Ooh, no, oh

I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy

Ooo, ooo, ooh

Reflexes had the better of me

And what is to be must be

Ev'ry 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, but I didn't shoot the deputy, no