Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                      Am
But I did not shoot the deputy
Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                      Am
But I did not shoot the deputy

F7+  Em7        Am
All around in my old town
  F7+    Em7       Am
They're trying to track me down
      F7+              Em7         Am
They say they want to bring me in guilty
         F7+      Em7  Am
For the killing of a   deputy
         F7+      Em7 Am
For the life of a deputy

But I say

Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                    Am
But I swear it was in selfdefence
Am
I shot the sheriff
Dm                    Am
And they say it is a capital offence

F7+      Em7       Am
 Sheriff John Brown always hated me
      F7+  Em7       Am
For what    I don't know
       F7+    Em7    Am
Every time I plant a seed
          F7+      Em7      Am
He said "Kill it before it grow"
          F7+      Em7          Am
He said "Kill them before they grow"

And so , and so , beat in the news

Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                    Am
But I swear it was in selfdefence
Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                    Am
But I swear it was in selfdefence

  F7+        Em7   Am
Freedom came my way one day
        F7+  Em7     Am
And I started out of town
F7+      Em7      Am
All of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown
F7+    Em7      Am
Aiming to shoot me down
       F7+    Em7
So I shot, I shot , I shot  him down

And I say

If I am gulty I will pay

Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                      Am
But I did not shoot the deputy
Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                      Am
But I did not shoot the deputy

    F7+          Em7   Am
Reflexes got the better of me
      F7+      Em7     Am
And what is to be must be
       F7+    Em7      Am
Every day the bucket I go I well
F7+         Em7          Am
One day the bottom will drop out
F7+         Em7          Am
One day the bottom will drop out

But I say

Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                      Am
But I did not shoot the deputy
Am
I shot the sheriff
 Dm                      Am
But I did not shoot the deputy