By Bob Marley<br /><br />I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy.<br />I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy.<br /><br />All around in my home town<br />They're trying to track me down.<br />They say they want to bring me in guilty<br />For the killing of a deputy,<br />For the life of a deputy.<br />But I say:<br /><br />I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense.<br />I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offense.<br /><br />Sheriff John Brown always hated me;<br />For what I don't know.<br />Every time that I plant a seed<br />He said, "Kill it before it grows."<br />He said, "Kill it before it grows."<br />I say:<br /><br />I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense.<br />I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense.<br /><br />Freedom came my way one day<br />And I started out of town.<br />All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown<br />Aiming to shoot me down.<br />So I shot, I shot him down.<br />I say:<br /><br />I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy.<br />I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy.
