Their second studio release, titled Perfect Solutions and recorded in Abbey Road studios, London with the help of producer Nick Webb (has worked with artists and acts such as John Lennon, Queen, Pink Floyd and Duran Duran), sees the daylight in 2001 and is followed by Flashback Mornings with it’s hit single Walk All Night. The Hobos are hailed by many critics as the best thing to come out of Latvia in the last decade.
In 2004, after two long years, The Hobos came out with yet another successful release – band’s first double album Radio Jah Jah. A very special occasion, since the second CD is complied almost entirely of cover versions. Suffice to say, this another example of The Hobos long-standing search for original musical directions.
Since 2006 The Hobos are back in studio, working on their next release due, which is due out soon.
Also: a Brixton based Americana band
i shot the sheriff
The Hobos Lyrics
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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-defence.
I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offence.
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-defence.
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defence.
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.
The lyrics to The Hobos' "I Shot the Sheriff" depict a man on the run after killing the town's sheriff but insisting that he did not shoot the deputy. The singer asserts that he acted in self-defense, presumably in response to ongoing oppression from Sheriff John Brown, who "always hated" him without explanation. The song speaks to themes of power dynamics, excessive force, and police brutality, raising questions about the legitimacy of law enforcement and the potential for individuals to take justice into their own hands.
Through its vivid imagery and narrative structure, "I Shot the Sheriff" invites listeners to empathize with the singer's plight, acknowledging the ways in which systemic oppression can lead to radical action. At the same time, the song also grapples with the ethics of vigilantism, presenting a scenario in which the singer's reflexive response ultimately contributes to his own downfall.
Overall, The Hobos' "I Shot the Sheriff" delivers a powerful commentary on social justice and personal agency, offering insight into the ways in which individuals navigate systems of power and oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy.
The singer admits to shooting the sheriff but denies shooting 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.
The singer's hometown is searching for him because they believe he killed a deputy.
But I say: I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defence. I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offence.
The singer declares that he shot the sheriff in self-defense but is being charged with a serious crime.
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.'
The sheriff had a grudge against the artist for unknown reasons and would destroy anything he tried to build up, even before it had a chance to grow.
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.
The artist left town when the opportunity arose, but the sheriff tried to kill him, so the artist acted in self-defense and shot him down.
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.
The singer acted on instinct and accepts the consequences of his actions, knowing that circumstances can change suddenly and unexpectedly.
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.
The singer reiterates that he only shot the sheriff and did not harm the deputy.
Contributed by Nora N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.