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