I Shot the Sheriff fue escrita por Bob Marley y cuenta la historia de un hombre que admite haber disparado al sheriff local, pero niega haber disparado al adjunto. La letra ha sido interpretada como una protesta contra la opresión y la injusticia. Se dice que Bob Marley se inspiró en la resistencia a la prohibición de la marihuana en Jamaica, donde el sheriff era una metáfora del sistema opresor.
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I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
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I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
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All around in my home town
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They're trying to track me down
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They say they want to bring me in guilty
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For the killing of a deputy
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For the life of a deputy But I say? (Play Main Riff)
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I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
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I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offense
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Sheriff John Brown always hated me
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For what I don't know
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Every time that I plant a seed
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He said "Kill it before it grows"
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He said "Kill it before it grows" I say! (Play Main Riff)
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I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
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I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
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Freedom came my way one day
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And I started out of town yeah
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All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown
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Aiming to shoot me down
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So I shot, I shot him down I say! (Play Main Riff)
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I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
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I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy
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Reflexes got the better of me
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And what is to be must be
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Every day the bucket falls to the well
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But one day the bottom will drop out
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Yes, one day the bottom will drop out But I say (Play Main Riff)
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I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no
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I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot no deputy, oh no