I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy
Yeah! 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 say:
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 I plant a seed
He said kill it before it grow
He said kill them before they grow
Read it in the news
I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in self-defence
Where was the deputy?
I say:
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 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 didn't shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff. I did
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 a-go a well
One day the bottom ago drop out
I say:
I shot the sheriff
Lord, I didn't shot the deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy
