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 hometown
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 defense
I said, I shot the sheriff, Oh Lord
And they say it is a capital offense
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
Ev'ry time I plant a seed
He said, "Kill it before it grows."
He said, "Kill them before they grow."
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self defense
I said I shot the sheriff but I swear it was in self defense
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah!
All of a sudden I saw Sheriff John Brown
So I shot, I shot, I shot him down
And I say, if I am guilty I will pay
I shot the sheriff, but I say, but I didn't shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy
Reflexes had the better of me
And what is to be must be
Ev'ry day the bucket a-go-a well
One day the bottom a-go drop out
One day the bottom a-go drop out
I, I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy, no
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy.