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.
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.
On EPMD's 1988 "Strictly Business" LP, the title track uses a sample of "I Shot the Sheriff" (Clapton's Version).
In 1997, rapper/producer Warren G covered the song for his Take a Look over Your Shoulder (Reality) album. This version peaked at #20 on the Hot 100. It hit #1 in New Zealand.
In 2000, the song has been covered in a ska-punk version by Voodoo Glow Skulls on their album Symbolic. It was also covered by former American Idol contestant Jason Castro in 2008.
In 2004, Tom Morello, under his persona, The Nightwatchman, borrowed and changed lyrics from the song during his performance of Until the End, as part of the Axis of Justice Concert Series Volume The lyrics he used were: "...three times I shot the sheriff; and did not spare the deputy". A studio version of the song was later released on his album One Man Revolution.
Both Inner Circle's "Bad Boys" and Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" refer to a "Sheriff John Brown". In "I Shot the Sheriff", Brown is the shooting victim; in "Bad Boys", one line asks "What'cha gonna do/When the Sheriff John Brown come for you"."
I Shot The Sheriff
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" is a reggae song that was released in 1973 on the album Burnin'. The song has a story to tell, an interesting narrative that tells a story of a man who shot the sheriff but didn't shoot the deputy. The song is mostly done in the first person narrative. The story goes that the singer is on the run as the law is after him, and they want to arrest him for killing the deputy sheriff. However, he insists that he didn't kill the deputy, but he did shoot the real culprit, the sheriff. He insists that he only acted in self-defense, and that explains why he shot the sheriff.
There are other subtle hints in the lyrics that reveal some of the singer's perspectives. He seems to be a farmer, and Sheriff John Brown has always had a problem with him. Sheriff Brown seems to be a corrupt policeman who would not let the singer carry out his farming activities peacefully. Brown would tell him to kill the seedlings before they grew, which translates to his unjust treatment of the singer. These injustices add to the tension between the two, leading the singer to shoot Brown when he saw him.
In conclusion, Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" song has a storyline that explains how the singer, out of self-defense, ended up shooting Sheriff John Brown. He insists that he didn't shoot the deputy and that it was a case of mistaken identity. It is a classic reggae song that tells a simple yet powerful narrative that is typical of Bob Marley's music.
Line by Line Meaning
I shot the sheriff
I am admitting to shooting the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy
However, I did not shoot the deputy
Oh, no, no
I am not guilty of shooting the deputy
All around in my hometown
In my hometown, everywhere I go
They're tryin' to track me down
People are searching for me
They say they want to bring me in guilty
They are accusing me of a crime
For the life of a deputy
Specifically, for injuring or killing a deputy
But I say
However, I have a different perspective
I shot the sheriff
I shot the sheriff, but with a valid reason
(But I swear it was in self-defense) I swear it was in self-defense, yeah
I acted out of self-defense, not because of malice
And they say it is a capital offense
They believe that my crime is severe enough to warrant death penalty
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
The sheriff had a deep-seated grudge against me
For what, I don't know
I have no idea why
Every time I plant a seed
Every time I try to start something
He said kill them before it grow
The sheriff would try to sabotage my plans before I could accomplish anything
And so
As a result
Freedom came my way one day
One day I finally achieved freedom
And I started out of town, yeah
I left my hometown behind
Then all of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
However, I unexpectedly encountered the sheriff
He was aiming to shoot I down
He attempted to shoot me
So I shot, yes, I shot, shot him down
So, I acted in self-defense again, and this time I fatally injured the sheriff
Reflexes had the better of me
I acted instinctively and in self-preservation
And what is to be must be
I have to accept the consequences of my actions
Every day the bucket goes to the well
I understand that life is unpredictable
I say, one day the bottom a-go drop out
I believe that one day things will inevitably go wrong
Really sing
I truly and passionately mean what I am singing
But I didn't shoot the deputy
I am reiterating once again that I did not harm the deputy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cory Farmer
this song is off the chain
Jvlito Drake
bob
Bob Sane
yes best naci song goot
Azmer Peramgrun
very nice song, I think Bob is the best in the world
Hassan Haj Ali
Magestic !!!
Erivelton Xavier Thomas
so o regger para relaxa
Campos Luis
sempre!!
Maxii Ch
esta super buenas
Danny Santos
sou bob Marley de coração
ورد الربيع
NICE