I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shot no deputy! Oh no oh! I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shot no deputy! Ooh-ooh-ooh! Yeah, all around in my home town They're trying to track me down, yeah They said they want to bring me in guilty For the killing of a deputy For the life of a deputy But I say, oh no-no Oh, I shot the sheriff (the sheriff) But I swear it was in self defense (Lord knows) ooh-ooh-ooh, yere I say I shot the sheriff (oh Lord!) And they say it is a capital offense Ooh-ooh-ooh, yere Sheriff John Brown always hated me For what I don't know Everytime I plant a seed He say kill it before it grow He say kill them before they grow And so, and so Reading in the news I shot the sheriff (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, yere (ooh!...) Freedom came my way one day And I started out of town yere 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 shot no deputy! I didn't shot no deputy no! I shot the sheriff But I didn't shot no deputy! Ooh-ooh-ooh Reflexes had the better of me And what is to be must be Everyday 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 no deputy no! Yere, I, I shot the sheriff But I didn't shot no deputy! Yere, so, yere.