The Wailers

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About I Shot the Sheriff

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Bob Marley and released in 1973 by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

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(I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no, ohI shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, ooh)Yeah, all around in my home townThey're tryin' to track me downThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputy, but I sayOh, now, now, oh(I shot the sheriff) the sheriff(But I swear it was in self defense) oh, no (oh, oh, ooh)Yeah, I say, I shot the sheriff oh, Lord! (and they say it is a capital offense)Yeah! (oh, oh, ooh) yeahSheriff John Brown always hated meFor what, I don't knowEvery time I plant a seedHe said kill it before it growHe said kill them before they grow, and soRead it in the news! (I shot the sheriff) oh, Lord(But I swear it was in self-defense)Where was the deputy? (oh, oh, ooh)I say, I shot the sheriffBut I swear it was in self defense, yeah (ooh)Freedom came my way one dayAnd I started out of town, yeahAll of a sudden I saw sheriff John BrownAiming to shoot me downSo I shot, I shot, I shot him down and I sayIf 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 didBut I didn't shoot no deputy, oh (oh, oh, ooh)Reflexes had got the better of meAnd what is to be must beEvery day the bucket a-go a wellOne day the bottom a-go drop outOne day the bottom a-go drop out, I sayI, I, I, I, shot the sheriffLord, I didn't shot the deputy, noI, I (shot the sheriff)But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeahSo, yeah

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The Wailers

Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as The Wailers, and prior to that The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing Wailers and The Teenagers) were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley (Robert Nesta Marley), Peter Tosh (Hubert Winston McIntosh), and Bunny Wailer (Neville Livingston).During 1970 and 1971, Wailer, Marley and Tosh worked with renowned reggae producers Leslie Kong and Lee "Scratch" Perry.They released four albums before signing to Island Records in 1972. Two more albums were created before Tosh and Wailer left the band in 1974, citing grievances over label treatment and ideological differences. Marley carried on with a new line-up, including the I-Threes that put out seven more albums. Marley d… more »

12 facts about this song

Creation

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song that was written by Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley and was originally released by him and his band, The Wailers, in 1973.

Album Release

The song was part of the album "Burnin'", which was the second studio album by The Wailers.

Popularity Status

"I Shot the Sheriff" is considered one of Marley's most iconic songs, reaching global audiences and receiving vast radio airplay.

Cover Versions

The song was also famously covered by American musician Eric Clapton, whose version helped introduce Marley's music to a wider audience.

Chart Performance

Clapton's version of the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974.

Song Theme

The song tells a story of a narrator who shoots the local sheriff, claiming self-defense but is accused of killing the deputy sheriff.

Underlying Meaning

Marley originally wrote the song in response to the unwanted interference of government in his life and the lives of the Jamaican people.

Song Interpretation

Some critics have interpreted "I Shot the Sheriff" as Marley's critique of oppressive institutions, with the Sheriff representing the system in which Marley felt oppressed.

Grammy Hall of Fame

The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.

Iconic Influence

Despite its straightforward lyrics, the song is often seen as an anthem for social and political resistance and has been cited within many discussions about police and racial tension.

Legacy

"I Shot the Sheriff" continues to be covered by musicians globally, proving the timelessness of the song's message.

Cultural Impact

Bob Marley's performance of "I Shot The Sheriff" at the One Love Peace Concert in 1978 is still remembered as one of the most powerful live acts in music history.

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