i shot the sheriff
. Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics

I shot the sheriff
The singer admits to shooting the sheriff.

But I didn't shoot no deputy
The singer denies shooting the deputy.

Oh, no, no
The singer is emphatic about not shooting the deputy.

I shot the sheriff
The artist reiterates that they shot the sheriff.

But I didn't shoot no deputy
The artist repeats that they did not shoot the deputy.

Ooh
The singer expresses emotion, perhaps fear or excitement.

All around in my hometown
The singer is being pursued in their hometown.

They're tryin' to track me down
The authorities are attempting to apprehend the artist.

They say they want to bring me in guilty
The authorities accuse the artist of a crime.

For the life of a deputy
The authorities are focusing on the shooting of the deputy.

But I say
The singer is about to give their side of the story.

I shot the sheriff
The artist reiterates that they shot the sheriff.

(But I swear it was in self-defense) I swear it was in self-defense, yeah
The singer claims that they acted in self-defense.

It was I shot the sheriff
The singer takes responsibility for the shooting of the sheriff.

And they say it is a capital offense
The authorities consider the shooting to be a capital offense.

Sheriff John Brown always hated me
The artist and the sheriff have a history of dislike.

For what, I don't know
The artist is unsure of the reason for the sheriff's dislike.

Every time I plant a seed
The singer refers to the sheriff interfering with their activities.

He said kill them before it grow
The sheriff advised the singer to stop their actions.

He said kill them before they grow
The sheriff repeated his advice.

And so
The artist is about to continue their story.

And so
The artist is about to continue their story.

But I didn't shoot the deputy
The singer repeats that they did not shoot the deputy.

It was I shot the sheriff
The artist maintains that they shot the sheriff.

(But I didn't shoot the deputy) I didn't shoot the deputy, no, no
The singer repeats that they did not shoot the deputy.

Freedom came my way one day
The singer experienced a moment of freedom.

And I started out of town, yeah
The singer decided to leave town.

Then all of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
The artist encountered the sheriff unexpectedly.

He was aiming to shoot I down
The sheriff was trying to harm the artist.

So I shot, yes, I shot, shot him down
The singer shot the sheriff in self defense.

And I say
The singer is emphasizing their statement.

I-I-I-I shot the sheriff
The artist repeats that they shot the sheriff.

Lord, I didn't shoot the deputy
The artist again asserts that they did not shoot the deputy.

(No, no, no)
The artist is emphatic about not shooting the deputy.

It was I who shot the sheriff
The singer reiterates that they were responsible for shooting the sheriff.

But I didn't shoot the deputy
The artist repeats that they did not shoot the deputy.

Reflexes had the better of me
The singer acted on impulse.

And what is to be must be
The singer accepts the consequences of their actions.

Every day the bucket goes to the well
The singer is using a metaphor about daily routines.

I say, one day the bottom a-go drop out
The artist believes that something unexpected will happen.

One day the bottom will drop out
The artist repeats their belief about an unexpected event.

And so
The singer is concluding their story.

And so
The singer is concluding their story.

Really sing
The artist is calling for the music to focus on singing.

I shot the sheriff
The artist repeats that they shot the sheriff.

But I didn't shoot the deputy
The artist repeats that they did not shoot the deputy.

(No, no, no)
The singer is emphatic about not shooting the deputy.

I shot the sheriff
The artist repeats that they shot the sheriff.

But I didn't shoot the deputy
The singer repeats that they did not shoot the deputy.