I Shot the Sheriff
ボブ・マーリー & The Wailers Lyrics
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I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, 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 self defense) Oh, no! (Oh, oh, ooh)
Yeah, I say, I shot the sheriff oh, Lord! (And they say it is a capital offense)
Yeah! (oh, oh, ooh) Yeah!
Sheriff John Brown always hated me,
For what, I don't know,
Every time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grow,
He said kill them before they grow, 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? (Oh, oh, ooh)
I say, 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 (oh, no-oh) oh no!
(I shot the sheriff) I did!
But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh (Oh, oh, ooh)
Reflexes had got 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 shot the deputy, no
I, I (shot the sheriff)
But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah
So, yeah
The song "I Shot The Sheriff" by ボブ・マーリー & The Wailers tells the story of a man who claims to have shot the sheriff in self-defense, but didn't shoot the deputy. The lyrics indicate that the sheriff had a history of animosity towards the singer and would kill any of his plants even before they could grow. One day, the singer saw the sheriff aiming to shoot him down and so he shot first. The lyrics express his willingness to accept the consequences of his action if he's found guilty.
The song is a social commentary on the systemic racism and police brutality that existed in Jamaica during the 1970s. Sheriff John Brown represents the oppressive system that treated poor, black Jamaicans unfairly. The lyrics "Every time I plant a seed, he said kill it before it grow" could refer to the stifling of progress in the country by the authorities.
The song became a hit in Jamaica and later in the US and UK. Despite its popularity, Bob Marley said that the song was not meant to promote violence, but to highlight the need for accountability and justice. The song has been covered by various artists, including Eric Clapton and Warren G., and has been featured in several movies and TV shows.
Line by Line Meaning
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no! Oh!
I am confessing to killing the sheriff but denying any involvement in the death of the deputy.
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
There is a manhunt in my hometown to find me because they believe I killed a deputy, but I maintain my innocence.
Oh, now, now, oh! (I shot the sheriff) the sheriff (But I swear it was in self defense) Oh, no! (Oh, oh, ooh) Yeah, I say, I shot the sheriff oh, Lord! (And they say it is a capital offense) Yeah! (oh, oh, ooh) Yeah!
I assert that I shot the sheriff in self-defense, but the authorities consider it to be a punishable crime.
Sheriff John Brown always hated me, For what, I don't know, Every time I plant a seed, He said kill it before it grow, He said kill them before they grow, and so
The sheriff had a personal vendetta against me, and he would destroy everything that I tried to build.
Read it in the news! (I shot the sheriff) Oh, Lord! (But I swear it was in self-defense) Where was the deputy? (Oh, oh, ooh) I say, I shot the sheriff, But I swear it was in self defense, yeah! (Ooh)
The media is reporting my arrest for killing the sheriff, but I did not harm the deputy. Yet, I insist that I shot the sheriff only to protect myself.
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 managed to flee town and evade the authorities until I encountered the sheriff who was attempting to kill me, forcing me to shoot him in self-defense. I am willing to accept responsibility if found guilty.
(I shot the sheriff) But I say (But I didn't shoot no deputy), I didn't shoot no deputy (oh, no-oh) oh no! (I shot the sheriff) I did! But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh (Oh, oh, ooh)
I confess again to killing the sheriff but maintain that I didn't have any involvement in the deputy's death.
Reflexes had got 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 shot the deputy, no I, I (shot the sheriff) But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah So, yeah
My survival instincts took over, leading me to shoot the sheriff, but I know that there will be consequences. Life can be unpredictable and everything may fall apart eventually. I am still insisting that I am not responsible for the deputy's death.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind