Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his album, 461 Ocean Boulevard. It is the most successful version of the song, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Clapton's only chart-topping hit in the U.S.
I want to say 'I shot the police' but the government would have made a fuss so I said 'I shot the sheriff' instead... but it's the same idea: justice." — Bob Marley
During the controversy over the Body Count song "Cop Killer", it was frequently pointed out that there were no similar complaints about Marley's song even though they had similar themes.
I Shot the Sheriff
Bob & The Wailers Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I didn't shoot no deputy
Oh, no, no
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy
Ooh
All around in my hometown
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For the life of a deputy
For the life of a deputy
But I say
I shot the sheriff
(But I swear it was in self-defense) I swear it was in self-defense, yeah
It was I shot the sheriff
And they say it is a capital offense
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what, I don't know
Every time I plant a seed
He said kill them before it grow
He said kill them before they grow
And so
And so
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot the deputy
It was I shot the sheriff
(But I didn't shoot the deputy) I didn't shoot the deputy, no, no
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah
Then all of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
He was aiming to shoot I down
So I shot, yes, I shot, shot him down
And I say
I-I-I-I shot the sheriff
Lord, I didn't shoot the deputy
(No, no, no)
It was I who shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot the deputy
Reflexes had the better of me
And what is to be must be
Every day the bucket goes to the well
I say, one day the bottom a-go drop out
One day the bottom will drop out
And so
And so
Really sing
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot the deputy
(No, no, no)
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot the deputy
In "I Shot the Sheriff," Bob Marley talks about how he shot the sheriff in what he says was self-defense. He denies shooting the deputy, but the authorities are trying to track him down, accusing him of doing so. The opening lines of the song express his guilt in shooting the sheriff but asserts that he didn't shoot the deputy. As he moves around his hometown, he feels the pressure of the authorities trying to bring him to justice.
Marley's lyrics challenge the authority of the police and the oppressive system that they represent, with the sheriff representing the police and the deputy standing for the justice system. Sheriff John Brown always had a problem with Marley; he had been doing something that didn't sit well with the sheriff for a long time. Marley talks about planting a seed and the sheriff telling him to kill it before it grows, which is to say that the sheriff wanted to stop his progress in life.
In the end, Marley "shot the sheriff" after feeling threatened and felt like it was the only way to defend himself. The song was Marley's commentary on the political and social issues that plagued Jamaica in the 1970s, and his sentiment echoes throughout many societies still.
Line by Line Meaning
I shot the sheriff
I killed the local law enforcement officer
But I didn't shoot no deputy
However, I did not harm any of the deputies
Oh, no, no
No, that's not true
All around in my hometown
Everywhere in my local area
They're tryin' to track me down
They are attempting to find and capture me
They say they want to bring me in guilty
They claim I am guilty and want to arrest me
For the life of a deputy
For the death of the deputy
But I say
However, my position is
I shot the sheriff
I killed the local law enforcement officer
(But I swear it was in self-defense) I swear it was in self-defense, yeah
(But I assert it was to protect myself) I insist it was for my own protection, yes
And they say it is a capital offense
And the authorities consider it a crime punishable by death
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
The local law enforcement officer, John Brown, had a long-standing animosity towards me
For what, I don't know
I am unaware of the reason for his hatred
Every time I plant a seed
Whenever I begin something new
He said kill them before it grow
John Brown threatened to end it before it could progress
And so
Consequently
Freedom came my way one day
An opportunity for liberation presented itself
And I started out of town, yeah
I began to leave the area
Then all of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
Suddenly, I spotted the local law enforcement officer, John Brown
He was aiming to shoot I down
He intended to shoot me down
So I shot, yes, I shot, shot him down
So, I fired a weapon, and killed him
Reflexes had the better of me
My instincts took over
And what is to be must be
And things occur as they should
Every day the bucket goes to the well
Every day, I retrieve water from the well
I say, one day the bottom a-go drop out
I predict that one day the well will run dry
Really sing
Sing earnestly
But I didn't shoot the deputy
However, I did not harm any of the deputies
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.,
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MFM_88
If you're listening to this in 2024, hit me 👍
@ahmetoztekin1232
Im.saying hello from cyprus island😊
@darrellmoore8194
From Philippines
@BTWrush
I am listening and performing this Sunday for Bob Marley’s Birthday gig ❤
@Roki.hermawan
😂
@nadiaarthus4125
From Martinique
@jamestyson458
I've been listening to all of Bob Marley's hit songs since I saw Bob Marley One Love. He was very talented. And a great man
@garrithdaly4541
Same
@jessenicolas6900
Talented ? GOD GIFTED !! one love
@Ijayed22
It is only Bob Marley and Michael Jackson that can sit on the same table and enjoy a meal of corn porridge while watching Thriller play on the TV. The two greatest musicians of all time 🙌👑🙌👑🙌
Counting down from 7 days when I can finally watch Bob’s biopic ‘One Love’ on February 14th.