I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, no no no no
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, I'm tellin' you so

All around in my home town
They are trying to track me down
They all say they want to bring me in guilty
For the killing of a deputy, ahahaha
For the life of a deputy, but I say, ooh!

I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense, gotta protect myself you know
I shot the sheriff, but they say it was a capital offense, ahahaha
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what, I don't know
Every time that I planted a seed
He said, "Kill it! Before it grows"
He said, "Kill it! Before it grows", but I say

I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense, an I'm not lying either
I shot the sheriff, I repeat I gotta tell you again it was in self defense
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town
All of a sudden I see that sheriff John Brown
With his pistol, trying to shoot me down
So I shot, I mean I shot him down, but I say, ooh!

I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, ?
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, you guys quit messing with brother Clinton
Reflexes got the better of me
And what is used to be, it must be
Every day the bucket goes to the well
But one day the bottom will drop out
I repeat, one day the bottom will drop out, but I say, oh

Look out, for the IG
Look out for the FBI
Look out for the Scotland Yard
And here comes Yeltsin, KGB
Yes I haven't got a baseball bat
Korea's got its problems too
Kabila, he don't like, Mobuto
And ? made friends with China
Lookout for the North West Mounted Police
Shoot 'im, yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-yo yo-o-o!
Give me my double barreled shotgun
Let me blow his brains out of his head
Let me stomp on his great big ol' fat toe
I shot the sheriff, I lose my breath
I got to run, police got guns
I can't go fast, they wanna kick my knee
Oh I shot the sheriff, why can't I see
I shot the sheriff, it's the end of me