Gm	     Gm
	I shot the sheriff,
	Cm    Cm		Gm	Gm Gm Gm
	but I did not shoot the deputy.
	Gm	     Gm
	I shot the sheriff,
	Cm    Cm		Gm	Gm Gm Gm
	but I did not shoot the deputy.
	Eb   Dm		 Gm	   Gm
	All around in my old town
		Eb	  Dm	   Gm   Gm
	they're trying to track me down.
	     Eb		      Dm	  Gm     Gm
	They say they want to bring me in guilty
	        Eb	     Dm     Gm Gm
	for the killing of a deputy,
		Eb	     Dm7    Gm Gm
	for the life of a deputy.
		   Gm Gm Gm Gm
	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.
	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, beat in the news:

	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 saw sheriff John Brown,
	aiming to shoot me down.
	So I shot, I shot, I shot  him down.
	And I say:
        
        If I am gulty I will pay

	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.
	Every day the bucket I go I well,
	one day the bottom will drop out,
	one day the bottom will drop out.
	But I say: