(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 home town

They're trying 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 self-defense) Oh, no, yeah

I say, I shot the sheriff, oh, Lord

Ooh, no yeah -

Yeah, hear this

Sheriff John Brown always hated me -

For what, I don't know

Every time I plant a seed

He said kill it before it grow

He said kill them before they grow -

And so, and so

Read it in the news-news--

(I shot the she-)Oh, Lord

(But I swear it was in self-defense-)Where was the deputy?

I say, I shot the sheriff

But I swear it was in self-defense, yeah -

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 depu-)pu-)-

I didn't shoot no deputy, no -

(I shot the she-)she-)-

I did -

(But I didn't shoot no deputy) Oh -

(Ooh-ooh, ooh) Yeah -

Reflexes had 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

Lord, I didn't shot the deputy, no

Yeah, I, I (Shot the sheriff)

But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah, so, yeah -