I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy
Oh, no, oh
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputyOoh, ooh, ooh yeahAll 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, nowOh, I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self defense
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
I said, I shot the sheriff, oh Lord
And they say it is a capital offense
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
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, and so
Read it in the newsI 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
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 (Ooh, no, oh)
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeahReflexes 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 sayI, I, I, I shot the sheriff, Lord I didn't shoot the deputy, no
Yah, I, I, shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy, yeah
So yeah
