I Shot the Sheriff

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I shot the sheriff
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

All around in my hometown
They're tryin' to track me down (track me down, 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 (oh, Lord)
But I swear it was in self-defence
I shot the sheriff (I shot the sheriff)
And they say it is a capital offence

Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what I don't know (I don't know)
Every time I plant a seed
He said, "kill it before it grows"
He said, "kill them before they grow"

I shot the sheriff (oh, Lord)
But I swear it was in self-defence (but I didn't shoot no deputy)
I shot the sheriff (oh, Lord)
And they say it is a capital offence (capital offence)

Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah
All of a sudden, I saw Sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot him down
I say
Oh-oh, no deputy
I shot the sheriff
And they say it is a capital offence

Reflexes had gather the better of me
And what is to be must be
Every day the bucket a-go-a well
One day the bottom a-go drop out
One day the bottom a-go drop out
I say

I, I, I
I shot the sheriff
I shot the sheriff
And they say it is a capital offence
All around

I shot the sheriff (oh, Lord)
But I swear it was in self-defence (I shot the sheriff)
I shot the sheriff (oh, Lord)
And they say it is a capital offence (oh, I shot the sheriff)

Ooh, ooh, ooh-oh-oh-oh-ooh
All around
Ooh, ooh, ooh-oh-oh-oh-ooh