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 Marley The Wailers 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
The song "I Shot The Sheriff" by Bob Marley & The Wailers, released in 1973, is a story of a man who admits to killing the local sheriff but denies shooting the deputy. He claims that he acted in self-defense when he saw the sheriff aiming to shoot him down. The lyrics suggest that the man had a difficult relationship with the law enforcement officer, who always seemed to have something against him. The man felt that the sheriff was out to get him and always tried to interfere with his plans, even going as far as asking him to kill his own seeds, aka children.
The song revolves around the themes of power dynamics, oppression, and authority. The lyrics suggest a corrupt police force with no regard for the lives and rights of those they are supposed to protect. The man in the song feels like he has been wronged by the sheriff and has no other choice but to fight back. He refuses to be another victim of the system and defends himself against the oppression that he faces.
Overall, "I Shot The Sheriff" is a powerful commentary on the relationship between the police and the community, the themes of individual and collective resistance against oppression, and the idea of self-determination.
Line by Line Meaning
I shot the sheriff
I killed Sheriff John Brown
But I didn't shoot no deputy
I did not kill any other law enforcement officers
Oh, no, no
I am expressing surprise or dismay at the situation
I shot the sheriff
I am reaffirming that I killed Sheriff John Brown
But I didn't shoot no deputy
Again, I am emphasizing that I did not kill any other law enforcement officers
Ooh
I am expressing a feeling of intense emotion
All around in my hometown
People in my town are looking for me
They're tryin' to track me down
They are attempting to locate me
They say they want to bring me in guilty
They accuse me of a crime and want to arrest me for it
For the life of a deputy
Specifically, they want to arrest me for killing a law enforcement officer
But I say
But my perspective on the situation is
I shot the sheriff
Once again, I acknowledge that I killed Sheriff John Brown
(But I swear it was in self-defense) I swear it was in self-defense, yeah
However, I want to make it clear that I acted in self-defense in the situation
And they say it is a capital offense
Despite my claim of self-defense, the authorities still consider my actions a capital offense
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
Sheriff John Brown had a personal grudge against me for some unknown reason
For what, I don't know
I am not aware of the reason for Sheriff John Brown's hatred
Every time I plant a seed
Whenever I start something new or make progress
He said kill them before it grow
Sheriff John Brown always discouraged and stopped my progress before it could even start
And so
As a result
And so
Once again, as a result of Sheriff John Brown's actions
Freedom came my way one day
I had an opportunity to escape and be free one day
And I started out of town, yeah
I took advantage of this opportunity and left town
Then all of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
At some point, I unexpectedly ran into Sheriff John Brown
He was aiming to shoot I down
He was threatening my safety with a gun
So I shot, yes, I shot, shot him down
In response to the threat, I fired my own weapon and killed him
Lord, I didn't shoot the deputy
I want to emphasize once again that I did not harm any other law enforcement officers
(No, no, no)
I am once again expressing strong negative emotion
Reflexes had the better of me
My instinctual reactions and reflexes took over in the moment
And what is to be must be
I am accepting the consequences of my actions
Every day the bucket goes to the well
I am acknowledging the routine nature of life, and that each day inevitably follows the next
I say, one day the bottom a-go drop out
However, I also recognize that things can change suddenly and without warning
One day the bottom will drop out
Someday, there will be a major and unexpected change
And so
Once again, acknowledging the inevitable nature of life
And so
To summarize once again
Really sing
I am emphasizing the importance of what I am about to say next
I shot the sheriff
Once again, I am reiterating that I killed Sheriff John Brown
But I didn't shoot the deputy
I want to emphasize one last time that I did not harm any other law enforcement officers
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.