UB40 — I Shot the Sheriff

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, oo-ooh Yeah! All around in my home town They're tryin' 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 Oh, now, now. Oh! (I shot the sheriff) The sheriff (But I swear it was in self defence) Oh, no! (Ooh, ooh, oo-oh) Yeah! I say: I shot the sheriff - Oh, Lord! - (And they say it is a capital offence) Yeah! (Ooh, ooh, oo-oh) Yeah! 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 Read it in the news: (I shot the sheriff) Oh, Lord! (But I swear it was in self-defence) Where was the deputy? (Oo-oo-oh) I say: I shot the sheriff But I swear it was in self defence (Oo-oh) 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 deputy) I didn't shoot no deputy (oh, no-oh), oh no! (I shot the sheriff) I did! But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh! (Oo-oo-ooh) Reflexes had got 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 shoot the deputy, yeah! I, I (shot the sheriff) But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah! No, yeah!