I Shot The Sheriff – English Lyrics

• By: Bob Marley

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the powerful world of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff," a seminal reggae track that's more than just a song—it's a narrative of defiance and justice. This song offers a compelling way to engage with the nuances of English through its direct yet metaphorical lyrics, rich cultural context, and universal themes of freedom and resistance. Discover how Marley masterfully blends storytelling with a resonant message, making it a truly special piece for language learners and music enthusiasts alike.

[English]

(crowd cheering) (upbeat funk music)

♪ It was I who shot the sheriff ♪

♪ But I didn't shoot no deputy ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ It was I who shot the sheriff ♪

♪ But I didn't shoot no deputy ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ It goes like this ♪

♪ All around in my home town ♪

♪ They are tryin' to track me down ♪

♪ They say they want to bring I in guilty ♪

♪ For the life of a deputy ♪

♪ For the life of a deputy, now ♪

♪ But I say ♪

♪ If I am guilty I will pay ♪

♪ I shot the sheriff ♪

♪ But I swear it was in self-defense ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ It was I who shot the sheriff ♪

♪ And they say it is a capital offense ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

♪ Now see ♪

♪ Sheriff John Brown always hated ♪

♪ For what, I don't know now ♪

♪ Every time I plant a seed ♪

♪ He say kill them before they grow ♪

♪ He say kill them before they grow now ♪

♪ And so yeah ♪

♪ And so ♪

♪ I, I, I, I shot the sheriff ♪

♪ Lord, I didn't shoot the deputy ♪

♪ It was I who shot the sheriff ♪

♪ But I didn't shoot no deputy ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

♪ Freedom came my way one day now ♪

♪ And I started out of town, yeah ♪

♪ Then all of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown ♪

♪ He was aiming to shoot I down ♪

♪ So I, oh yes I, I shot him down and I say ♪

♪ If I am guilty I will pay ♪

♪ 'Cause I shot the sheriff ♪

♪ But I swear it was in self-defense ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ It was I who shot the sheriff ♪

♪ And they say it is a capital offense ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

♪ Reflexes had the better of me now ♪

♪ What is to be must be, yeah ♪

♪ Every day the bucket goes to the well and me ah ♪

♪ One day the bottom will drop out ♪

♪ And I say, one day the bottom will drop out, and so ♪

(crowd cheering)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sheriff /ˈʃerɪf/ A2	noun - an elected officer in a county who is responsible for keeping the peace
deputy /ˈdepjəti/ B1	noun - a person appointed to undertake duties on behalf of someone else.
shoot /ʃuːt/ A2	verb - to fire a weapon
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is generally larger than a village and smaller than a city.
track /træk/ B1	verb - to follow the trail of someone or something
guilty /ˈɡɪlti/ B1	adjective - responsible for doing something bad
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
swear /swer/ B1	verb - to make a solemn statement or promise
defense /dɪˈfens/ B1	noun - the action of defending oneself
capital /ˈkæpɪtl/ B2	adjective - punishable by death
offense /əˈfens/ B2	noun - a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act.
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - to feel intense dislike for
plant /plænt/ A2	verb - to put (a seed, seedling, or plant) in the ground or in a pot or other container so that it will grow
seed /siːd/ A1	noun - a flowering plant's unit of reproduction, capable of developing into another such plant.
grow /ɡroʊ/ A1	verb - to increase in size or substance
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ B1	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance.
aim /eɪm/ B1	verb - point or direct (a weapon or something else) at a target.
reflex /ˈriːfleks/ B2	noun - an action that is performed without conscious thought as a response to a stimulus.
bucket /ˈbʌkɪt/ A2	noun - a roughly cylindrical open container, typically made of metal or plastic, with a handle, used to hold and carry liquids or other material.
bottom /ˈbɑːtəm/ A2	noun - the lowest point or part of something

Key Grammar Structures

• They are tryin' to track me down

  ➔ Present Continuous for ongoing action/accusation

  ➔ The phrase "They are tryin'" uses the present continuous to emphasize that the act of trying to track him down is currently in progress. It suggests urgency and immediacy. This contrasts with a simple present tense statement like "They try to track me down," which would indicate a habitual action.

• They say they want to bring I in guilty

  ➔ Incorrect grammar, should be "bring me in"

  ➔ This line contains grammatically incorrect English. The object pronoun "me" should be used instead of the subject pronoun "I". The correct phrase is "bring *me* in guilty". This is likely intentional for stylistic reasons or to reflect dialect.

• If I am guilty I will pay

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ This is a clear example of a first conditional sentence. The structure is "If + present simple, will + base form". It expresses a realistic possibility in the future: *If* (condition: present simple) I *am* guilty, I *will pay* (result: will + base form).

• But I swear it was in self-defense

  ➔ Past Simple with "was" to describe a past state

  ➔ The clause "it was in self-defense" uses the past simple form of the verb "to be" (was) to describe the state of the action (shooting) at the time it occurred. It clearly states that the action happened in the past, and its motive was self-preservation.

• Sheriff John Brown always hated

  ➔ Past Simple with Adverb of Frequency

  ➔ This uses the past simple tense to describe a habitual action in the past. "Always" is an adverb of frequency, indicating how often the Sheriff hated the speaker. The adverb modifies the verb "hated." Note that the adverb is placed before the main verb in this construction.

• Every time I plant a seed, He say kill them before they grow

  ➔ Present Simple for habitual action and imperative

  ➔ "Every time I plant a seed" uses the present simple to describe a recurring action. "He say kill them" uses the present simple but in this case it's used to report the sheriff's constant command, acting as an imperative. The grammar is again, not strictly correct, but colloquial.

• Freedom came my way one day now

  ➔ Past Simple (came) – events happened in the past

  ➔ The use of the past simple tense ("came") indicates a completed action in the past. It is used to narrate a specific event. The adverbial phrase "one day now" specifies when the action happened and adds a sense of immediacy.

• Reflexes had the better of me now

  ➔ Past Simple with Idiomatic Expression

  ➔ The idiom "had the better of me" is used in the past simple. This means that his reflexes overpowered him. It expresses that his reaction was involuntary and uncontrollable.