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, oo-ooh

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
Oh, now, now. Oh !
I shot the sheriff (the sheriff)
But I swear it was in selfdefence (Oh, no !)
Ooh, ooh, oo-oh (Yeah !)

I say
I shot the sheriff (Oh, Lord !)
And they say it is a capital offence (Yeah !)
Ooh, ooh, oo-oh (Yeah !)

Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what, I don't know
Everytime I plant a seed
He said kill it before it grow
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-defence
(Where was the deputy ?)
Oo-oo-oh

I say
I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in selfdefence
Yeah!

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, yeah !)
oh, no-oh
I shot the sheriff (I did !)
But I didn't shoot no deputy (Oh !)
Oo-oo-ooh (yeah !)

Reflexes had got the better of me
And what is to be must be
Everyday 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 the deputy
Yeah !
I - I (shot the sheriff)
But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah !
No, yeah !