I shot the sheriff But I didn't shoot no deputy Oh, no, oh I shot the sheriff But I didn't shoot no deputy Ooh, ooh, ooh Yeah 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 Ooh, ooh, ooh I said, I shot the sheriff, Oh Lord And they say it is a capital offense Ooh, ooh, ooh Hear this Sheriff John Brown always hated me For what I don't know Ev'ry time I plant a seed He said, "Kill it before it grows." He said, "Kill them before they grow." And so, oh, now, now Read it in the news I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self defense Where was the deputy? (Ooh, ooh, ooh) 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 Aiming to shoot me down 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 Ooh, no, oh I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy Ooo, ooo, ooh 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 say, I, I, ... I, I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy, no