Reggae Music

The song was originally written by Bob Marley, who wrote the song and recorded it with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer for their 1973 album Burnin‘. (Tosh and Wailer left for solo careers after this album.) Marley gave a voice to the people of Jamaica in a musical genre, reggae, the originated in Jamaica. In the story of the song, the narrator admits that he shot the sheriff in self-defense when the sheriff who hated him tried to shoot him. But they would be wrongly accusing him about any shooting of the deputy. Marley says that the song is about justice.

Eric Capton released his cover of the song on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard and as a single. Clapton’s version of the song was an international charting success. It rose to #1 in the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand in 1974.  It went to #11 in Australia, #19 in Austria, #7 in Belgium, #4 in Germany, #5 in The Netherlands, #3 in Norway, #11 in South Africa, and #9 in the U.K.

Other covers of “I Shot the Sheriff” include versions by Warren G, Light of the World, Mary J. Blige, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, and many more.

Here are the lyrics to “I Shot the Sheriff” by Eric Clapton:
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff, but I didn’t shoot the deputy

All around in my home 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 self-defense
I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offense

Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what I don’t know
Every time that I plant a seed
He said, “Kill it before it grows”
He said, “Kill it before it grows,” I say

I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense

Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town
All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot him down, 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 goes to the well
But one day the bottom will drop out
Yes, one day the bottom will drop out, but I say

I shot the sheriff, but I didn’t shoot the deputy, oh no
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot no deputy, oh no

If you wish to hear the version by Bob Marley and the Wailers: “I Shot the Sheriff.” For another song by Eric Clapton: “Lay Down Sally.”

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “I Shot the Sheriff” by Eric Clapton.