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I Shot The Sheriff By Bob Marley 
Lyrics + Meaning

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Bob Marley Songs and Lyrics | image source: Rolling StoneI Shot The Sheriff By Bob Marley | Lyrics + Meaning

By Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

"I Shot the Sheriff," is a classic reggae piece written by Bob Marley and released in 1973 on The Wailers' Burnin' album. To this day it stands as one of Marley's most iconic songs. With its catchy reggae beat and thought-provoking lyrics, it tells the story of a man who confesses to shooting a sheriff but denies any involvement in the murder of a deputy. The song’s narrative and deeper meanings have made it the subject of much discussion, especially given its themes of justice and rebellion.

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The Birth Control Theory

In 2012, Bob's former girlfriend, Esther Anderson, offered a surprising twist on the song's meaning. She claimed that the lyrics, particularly the line "Every time I plant a seed / He said kill it before it grows," were inspired by Marley's opposition to her use of birth control pills. According to Anderson, Marley disliked the idea of preventing life and used the metaphor of the sheriff (representing a figure of control) to replace the word "doctor" in the original idea.

Controversy and Legacy

Interestingly, "I Shot the Sheriff" became part of a larger cultural conversation in 1992, during the controversy surrounding Ice-T’s song "Cop Killer." Marley's song was frequently cited by Ice-T's supporters, who argued that Marley's track, despite addressing similar themes of authority and resistance, did not receive the same criticism as Ice-T's, highlighting perceived hypocrisy in the way such themes were treated by the public and media.

I Shot the Sheriff Lyrics

By Bob Marley and the Wailers

[Chorus]
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no, oh
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, ooh

[Verse 1]
Yeah, all around in my hometown
They're trying to track me down, yeah
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For the killing of a deputy
For the life of a deputy
But I say
Oh, now, now, oh

[Chorus]
I shot the sheriff, the sheriff
But I swear it was in self-defense, oh no
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
I say, I shot the sheriff, oh Lord
And they say it is a capital offense, yeah
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah

[Verse 2]
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what, I don't know
Every time I plant a seed
He said kill it before it grow
He said kill them before they grow
And so, and so

[Chorus]
I shot the sheriff, oh Lord
But I swear it was in self-defense
Where was the deputy? Ooh, ooh, ooh
I say, I shot the sheriff
But I swear it was in self-defense, yeah
Ooh-ooh

[Verse 3]
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah
All of a sudden I saw Sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot, I shot him down and I say
If I am guilty I will pay (pay, pay, pay, pay, pay)

[Chorus]
I shot the sheriff
But I say, but I didn't shoot no deputy
I didn't shoot no deputy, oh no, ooh, ooh, ooh
I shot the sheriff, I did
But I didn't shoot no deputy, oh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

[Verse 4]
Reflexes had the better of me
And what is to be must be
Every day the bucket a-go a well
One day the bottom a-go drop out
One day the bottom a-go drop out

[Outro]
I say
I-I-I, I shot the sheriff
Lord, I didn't shoot the deputy, no
Yeah, I-I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy, yeah, so, yeah

The Eric Clapton Cover

In 1974, blues rock musician Eric Clapton covered *"I Shot the Sheriff"* on his *461 Ocean Boulevard* album. Clapton’s version introduced a bluesy rock interpretation of the reggae classic, and it quickly became a hit. In fact, Clapton’s rendition reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, marking his only US number-one single. His version was praised for its smooth sound, though it didn’t include a guitar solo, which many might have expected from Clapton.

Clapton’s success with the song helped to further popularize reggae music in mainstream Western audiences, introducing them to Marley's powerful storytelling and the rhythms of reggae.

"I Shot the Sheriff" remains a classic example of Bob Marley's ability to blend personal experiences with broader social commentary. Whether viewed as a straightforward tale of rebellion against injustice, a metaphor for Marley's views on personal autonomy, or simply a great reggae track, it has become an enduring part of his legacy, continuing to inspire listeners to question authority and fight for their rights.

Here are some other great Bob Marley Songs you will love.

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References & Sources I Shot The Sheriff By Bob Marley

  1. Bob Marley & The Wailers – I Shot the Sheriff. (n.d.). Genius. https://genius.com/Bob-marley-and-the-wailers-i-shot-the-sheriff-lyrics

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