I Shot The Sheriff

I shot the sheriff 
 
[Gm]I shot the sheriff, 
[Cm]but I did not shoot the [Gm]deputy. 
[Gm]I shot the sheriff, 
[Cm]but I did not shoot the [Gm]deputy. 
[Eb]All a[Dm]round in my [Gm]home town 
they‘re [Eb]trying to [Dm]track me [Gm]down. 
They [Eb]say they want to [Dm]bring me in [Gm]guilty 
for the [Eb]killing of a [Dm]deputy,[Gm] 
for the [Eb]killing of a [Dm7]deputy. [Gm] 
But I say: [Gm] 
 
I shot the sheriff, 
but I swear it was in selfdefence. 
I shot the sheriff, 
but I swear it was in selfdefence. 
Sheriff John Brown always hated me 
for what I don‘t know. 
Ev‘ry time that I plant a seed 
he said "Kill it before it grow," 
he said "Kill it before it grow." 
But I say: 
 
I shot the sheriff, 
but I swear it was in selfdefence. 
I shot the sheriff, 
but I swear it was in selfdefence. 
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. 
But 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. 
Ev‘ry day the bucket goes to the well, 
but one day the bottom will drop out, 
yes one day the bottom will drop out.