I Shot The Sheriff
H.O.W. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could have used a megaphone.
Inanimate objects getting me down,
Mechanical failures all around.
I shot the Marshall,
In self-defence.
I shot the Marshall,
It shouldn't look at me that way,
Yeah, killed that amp.
Only works when I'm close to it,
Walk away it'll have a fit.
Hand pocket, pull out a fiver,
Pay the guy with a screwdriver.
But it did it once too often,
Put that amp in a coffin.
Got my Walther P.P.K,
"Go ahead amp make my day".
The judge was fair on my case,
Said "Go home boy get back to base".
"Don't smash things up just be cool
Learn electronics at night school".
The lyrics of H.O.W.'s "I shot the Sheriff" depict a person who is feeling down and depressed while walking home. They are frustrated with the objects around them that keep malfunctioning and causing more problems for them. In this state of agitation and annoyance, the singer shoots the Marshall in self-defense. They do not regret their action and proclaim that the Marshall shouldn't have looked at them that way. The singer then goes on to explain how their amp, which was once a source of frustration for them, had pushed them too far one too many times. They ended up shooting the amp and burying it.
It is clear that the singer is feeling defeated and powerless due to the malfunctioning objects in their life. The amp becomes a symbol of their pent-up frustrations and their desire to take control. However, the singer also understands that their actions were extreme and they recognize the need to calm down and focus on learning electronics at night school.
The song is a commentary on how the frustrations of daily life can take a toll on a person's mental health and how they can resort to drastic measures to regain control. It also speaks to the importance of recognizing the need for self-improvement and education instead of turning to violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel depressed, walking home,
I am feeling sad and down as I walk home alone.
Could have used a megaphone.
I wish I had a loudspeaker to make my voice heard.
Inanimate objects getting me down,
I feel frustrated by the lack of control I have over the things around me.
Mechanical failures all around.
Everything from my gadgets to my mode of transport keeps malfunctioning.
I shot the Marshall,
I had to defend myself by shooting the law enforcer who threatened my safety.
In self-defence.
I acted in response to the marshal's aggression.
I shot the Marshall,
I had no choice but to use force against the law enforcer who posed a threat to me.
Got no regrets.
I do not feel guilty for what I have done.
It shouldn't look at me that way,
The amplifier's faulty behavior made me feel angry and resentful.
Yeah, killed that amp.
I destroyed the troublesome amplifier that irritated me.
Only works when I'm close to it,
The faulty amplifier only functions properly in my immediate vicinity.
Walk away it'll have a fit.
The amplifier will malfunction when I walk away from it.
Hand pocket, pull out a fiver,
I took out my wallet and retrieved some cash.
Pay the guy with a screwdriver.
I paid the technician with a screwdriver for repairing the amplifier.
But it did it once too often,
The amplifier's recurring malfunctioning was too much for me to bear.
Put that amp in a coffin.
I destroyed the amplifier, making sure it never caused me trouble again.
Got my Walther P.P.K,
I obtained a handgun for my protection.
"Go ahead amp make my day".
I dared the amplifier to cause any more trouble, knowing I was now ready to face any challenge.
The judge was fair on my case,
The court recognized my act of self-defence and delivered a just verdict.
Said "Go home boy get back to base".
The judge advised me to return to my normal routine and avoid getting into trouble.
"Don't smash things up just be cool
The judge advised me to be calm and rational in the future.
Learn electronics at night school".
The judge suggested that I learn the skills required to fix things like amplifiers, so that I won't have to face similar frustrations again in the future.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PREECE, COLIN ABRAHALL, COLIN BLYTH, ROSS LOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joellewis7409
September 17, 2007 at 4:48 PM EDT - Updated July 2 at 6:06 AM
(CINCINNATI) -- A
man was sentenced to 13 years in prison today for shooting an Addyston police officer.
Joell Lewis / Courtesy Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
Joell Lewis, 18, was found guilty of shooting Lt. Dave
Pahner in July of last year.
Pahner was leading Lewis to the police station
when Lewis pulled a 9 millimeter handgun
and shot the officer. Lewis ran across the
street to the Lanxess plant where officers
O
@remote8117
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
All around in my home town
They're trying 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
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
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 that I plant a seed
He said, "Kill it before it grows"
He said, "Kill it before it grows", I say
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town
All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot him down, I say
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
Reflexes got the better of me
And what is to be must be
Every day the bucket goes to the well
But one day the bottom will drop out
Yes, one day the bottom will drop out, but I say
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no
@baddomingo6240
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, yeah
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
(But I swear it was in self-defence) oh no, oh, oh, ooh
Yeah, I say, I shot the sheriff oh, Lord (and they say it is a capital offence)
Yeah, yeah! Hear that
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-and-so
Read it in the news!
oh, Lord!
But I swear it was in self-defence
Where was the deputy? (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
I say, I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in self-defence, 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 (pay, pay, pay, pay...)
but I say but I didn't shoot no deputy
I didn't shoot no deputy, no (ooh, ooh, ooh)
(I shot the sheriff) I agree
(But I didn't shoot no deputy) oh
(Ooh, ooh, 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
@kendricklamar1731
Words can’t describe how timeless this song is, been jamming to this song for 17years now still never gets the old
@bodoor8172
Eric Claptons blues version is much better.
@kendricklamar1731
@@bodoor8172 I’ll give it a listen
@AnarcoRua
Irmão Bob Marley sempre será lembrado pra quem ama aquele reggae raiz
@RLindsey43
Did America move?
@bobpatino8235
I really think he was guilty like Wtf how you gonna shoot some one over some plants, but hey I’m no body to judge bob
@jaylene.turner6524
Bob left us way too soon,
but his music will live on forever.
(February 6th,1945-
May 11th,1981)
@amandajackson2193
“My richness is in life, forever” - Bob Marley.
@coronagodthefather3286
It was I corona 👑 jah jah rastafari god the father of Jesus Christ who governments put on the cross that shot all governments thiefs of working class slaves,get up stand up,so much trubel in the world,slave driver, could you be loved, want more, all prophecy s
@ozgurgurbuz6609
He left when I was 12 days old.