I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot the deputy
All around in my old 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 selfdefence
I shot the sheriff
And they say it is a capital offence
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 , beat in the news
I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in selfdefence
I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in selfdefence
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town
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
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot the deputy
Reflexes got the better of me
And what is to be must be
Every day the bucket I go I well
One day the bottom will drop out
One day the bottom will drop out
But I say
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff
But I did not shoot the deputy