I Shot the Sheriff

Eb Dm Gm (end on the G)

I Shot the Sheriff G

CHORUS:
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but but I did not shoot the [Gm] deputy
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I didn’t shoot the [Gm] deputy

VERSE 1:
(bass A when Dm plays)
[Eb] All around in [Dm] my home town [Gm]
[Eb] They’re trying to [Dm] track me down [Gm]
[Eb] They say they want to [Dm] bring me in guilty [Gm]
[Eb] For the killing of a [Dm] deputy [Gm]
[Eb] For the life of a [Dm] deputy But I [Gm] say! (RIFF 1)

CHORUS:
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I swear it was in [Gm] self-defense
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] and they say it is a [Gm] capital offense

VERSE 2:
(bass A when Dm plays)
[Eb] Sheriff John Brown[Dm] always [Gm] hated me
[Eb] For what [Dm] I don’t know
[Eb] Every time that I [Dm] plant a seed
[Eb] He said [Dm] “Kill it before it grows”
[Eb] He said [Dm] “Kill it before it grows” I say! (RIFF 1)

CHORUS:
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I swear it was in [Gm] self-defense
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I swear it was in [Gm] self-defense

VERSE 3:
[Eb] Freedom came my[Dm] way one day [Gm]
[Eb] And I [Dm] started out of town, yeah
[Eb] All of a sudden [Dm] I see sheriff John Brown
[Eb] Aiming to shoot me down
[Eb] So I shot, I shot him down I say! (RIFF 1)

[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I did not shoot the [Gm] deputy
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I didn’t shoot the [Gm] deputy

VERSE 4:
[Eb] Reflexes got the [Dm] better of [Gm] me
[Eb] And what is to be must be
[Eb] Every day the bucket falls to the well
[Eb] But one day the bottom will drop out
[Eb] Yes, one day the bottom will drop out But I say! (RIFF 1)

( chorus continues next page )
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I did not shoot the [Gm] deputy, oh no
[Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I did not shoot no [Gm] eputy, oh no

ENDING: Eb Dm Gm
Eb Dm Gm (end on the G)