I shot the sheriff,
But I didn't shoot no deputy!
I shot the sheriff,
But I didn't shoot no deputy!
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:

I shot the sheriff,
But I swear it was in selfdefence!
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 grow,
He said kill them before they grow.
I say:

I shot the sheriff,
But I swear it was in selfdefence!
I shot the sheriff,
But I swear it was in selfdefence!
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town.
All of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down,
So I shot, I shot him down.
I say:

I shot the sheriff,
But I didn't shoot no deputy!
I shot the sheriff,
But I didn't shoot no deputy!
Reflexes had got the better of me
And what is to be must be:
Every day the bucket goes to a well,
One day the bottom go drop out,
Yes, one day the bottom will drop out.
I say:

I shot the sheriff,
But I didn't shoot no deputy!
I shot the sheriff,
But I didn't shoot no deputy!
Oh, no!