I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy All around in my hometown, they're trying to track her down They say they want to bring me in guilty, for the killing of a deputy For the life of a deputy, but I say I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offense Sheriff John Brown always hated me, for what I don't know Every time I planned to see, he said kill it before it grows He said kill them before it grows And so, and so, read it in the news I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense I shot the sheriff, and I swear it was in self-defense Freedom came my way one day, when I started out on the prowl All of a sudden I saw Sheriff John Brown aiming to shoot me down So I shot, I shot, I shot him down And so, and so, if I am guilty I will pay I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy Reflexes got the better of me, and what is to be must be Every day the bucket goes to the well One day the bottom will go and drop out One day the bottom will go and drop out I said, I said, yeah I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy I shot the sheriff You got me running, you got me running, you got me running away I shot the sheriff I shot the sheriff