I shot the sheriff But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no I shot the sheriff But I didn't shoot no deputy, Ooh, ooh, ooh You see all around in my home town They're trying 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 self-deffnce I shot the sheriff And they say it is a capital offence Sheriff John Brown always hated me For what I do not know Every time I plant a seed He said kill it before it grows He said kill them before they grow So read it in the news I shot the sheriff But I swear it was in self-deffnce I shot the sheriff But I swear it was in self-deffnce Freedom came my way one day And I started out of town yeah All of a sudden I saw sieriff 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 didn't shoot no deputy, oh no I shot the sheriff But I didn't shoot no deputy, Ooh, ooh, ooh 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 a go drop out One day the bottom a go drop out I shot the sheriff But I didn't shoot no deputy,