I Shot the Sheriff
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics


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(I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no, oh
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

Overall Meaning

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
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Comments from YouTube:

@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

31 More Replies...

@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.

@jacs664

corn porridge is very caribean, MJ was American from Indiana, anways tasty food

@airtimer2958

What did you think of the movie? I watched it on the 14th the day of release and tbh it felt like a mix of clips with a sudden ending to me with no proper transitions and all, I usually dont criticise movies as much but this one was a bit ehh..

@SamuelOchwo

Include lucky fine.

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