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, the sheriff, But I swear it was in selfdefense, 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, and so, Read it in the news. I shot the sheriff, But I swear it was in selfdefense, Ooh, ooh, ooh. I said, I shot the sheriff, But I swear it was in selfdefense, yeah. Freedom came my way one day And I started out of town, yeah! All of a sudden, I saw sheriff John Brown Aimin´ 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 didn´t shoot no deputy, Oh no, oh. I shot the sheriff, But I didn´t shoot no deputy, Ooh, ooh, ooh. Reflexes had the better of me, And what is to be must be. Ev´ry day the bucket ago a well; One day the bottom ago drop out, One day the bottom ago drop out. I say, I, I, I, I shot the sheriff, Lord I didn´t shoot no deputy, no. Yeah, I, I shot the sheriff, But I didn´t shoot no deputy, Yeah, so, yeah.