I Shot the Sheriff (Live At Long Beach Arena, California / 1974)

I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy

All around in my hometown
Trying to track me down
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For the killing of the deputy
For the life of a deputy

Yeah, but I say

I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy

Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what? I don't know
And every time that I plant a seed
He said, "Kill it before it grows"
He said, "Kill it before it grows"

But I say

I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy

Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah, yeah, yeah
All of a sudden, I see Sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot, I shot him down, yeah

But I'll say

I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy

Reflexes got the better of me, ah, yeah
And what will be, will be, yeah, yeah
Every day the bucket goes to the well
But one day, the bottom will drop out
Yes, one day, the bottom will drop out, you betcha!

I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot no deputy