I Shot the Sheriff
Warren G Lyrics

I shot the sheriff
The singer had to shoot the sheriff as a justifiable response to being mistaken for someone who had committed several murders.

I had to shoot the sheriff it was justifiable
The singer is defending his actions of shooting the sheriff by explaining that he had a valid reason to do so.

he mistaked me for somebody who was liable
The sheriff wrongly identified the singer as someone who was responsible for committing the murders.

for all tha many murders l.a and war fields
The sheriff assumed that the singer had committed several murders in Los Angeles and war fields.

we keep makin war shields
The society is constantly preparing for war and is creating defenses for it.

streets keep souls
The streets are dangerous and easily lead people to make poor choices that can harm them and others.

young brothers loose control
Young people are often unable to control their actions and make poor decisions.

I seem to maintain through this
Despite the difficult circumstances, the singer is able to keep going and remain resilient.

watch where ya kick it they'll put you in a twist
The singer advises people to be careful about where they go and what they do because they could end up getting in trouble.

and it ain't nobody like my down ass hommie
The singer has a close friend who is always there for him and understands him better than anyone else.

and tha police always tryin to pin some bullshit on me
The police are constantly trying to falsely accuse the singer of crimes he did not commit.

I keep away from fools
The singer avoids spending time with people who make poor decisions.

they do crime and it attracts cops
People who commit crimes draw the attention of the police.

cops got guns and cuffs
The police have weapons like guns and handcuffs to use when dealing with criminals.

and cells to stuff you in
The police have jail cells where they can put people who break the law.

They tryin' to stick with some bullshit that I did not do
The police are attempting to accuse the singer of crimes he did not commit.

you know who
The singer is referring to the police when he says 'you know who'.

the boys in blue
The 'boys in blue' refers to the police who wear blue uniforms.

there they go with they assumpitons
The police are making assumptions about the singer's involvement in a crime without any evidence.

slaverys over let us have somethin'
The singer is advocating for equal treatment and asking for the police to stop harassing him.

why you want to pull me over?
The singer questions why the police are bothering him and pulling him over.

'cause I'm bumpin?
The police are pulling him over because he is playing loud music.

I just made a new song
The singer has just created a new piece of music.

my profession is music
The singer's job is to create music.

your profession is protection with gats
The police officers' job is to protect people but often use guns to do so.

then use it on him when he's tryin' to take my life away
The singer is suggesting that the police officer who pulled him over would use a gun on him if he felt threatened or believed that the singer posed a danger.

I'm just tryin' to live my life today
The singer is just trying to live his life and get by without causing any harm to anyone.

I shot the sheriff
The singer admits to shooting the sheriff.

I didn't shoot the deputiy I didn't have to
The singer did not shoot the deputy because he did not pose a threat.

'cause in this game they always tryin' to blast you
In this society, people in authority like the police are always trying to harm others.

and leave it to tha cops to find out who did the murder
The singer believes it is the police's job to investigate the murder and find the real culprit.

they harrase tha wrong clan and arrest tha wrong man
The police often harass and falsely accuse innocent people.

the hommie day-dog got strapped but that's okay
The singer accepts that his friend Day-Dog has gotten into trouble with the law.

'cause I'm gonna work for life so he can see another day
The singer is committed to working hard to support himself and his friend Day-Dog.

a hommies a hommie
A true friend will always be there for another friend, no matter what.

a fake is a snake
People who pretend to be friends but are not true to their word are like snakes, deceitful and untrustworthy.