I SHOT THE SHERIFF, BUT I DID NOT SHOOT THE DEPUTY
I SHOT THE SHERIFF, BUT I DIDN'T SHOOT THE DEPUTY

ALL AROUND IN MY HOME TOWN
THEY'RE TRYING TO TRACK ME 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 CAPITOL OFFENSE

SHERIFF JOHN BROWN ALWAYS HATED ME
FOR WHAT I DON'T KNOW
AND EV'RY TIME I THAT PLANT A SEED, HE SAID KILL IT BEFORE IT GROW
HE SAID KILL IT BEFORE IT GROWS (I SAY)

I SHOT THE SHERIFF, BUT I SWEAR IT WAS IN SELF-DEFENSE
I SHOT THE SHERIFF, BUT I SWEAR IT WAS IN SELF-DEFENSE

FREEDOM CAME MY WAY ONE DAY
AND I STARTED OUT OF TOWN, YEAH
ALL OF A SUDDEN I SEE SHERIFF JOHN BROWN, AIMING TO SHOOT ME DOWN
SO I SHOT, I SHOT HIM DOWN (AND I SAY)

I SHOT THE SHERIFF, BUT I DID NOT SHOOT THE DEPUTY
I SHOT THE SHERIFF, BUT I DIDN'T SHOOT THE DEPUTY

REFLEXES GOT THE BETTER OF ME
AND WHAT IS TO BE MUST BE
EVERY DAY THE BUCKET GOES TO THE WELL
BUT ONE DAY THE BOTTOM WILL DROP OUT
YES ONE DAY THE BOTTOM WILL DROP OUT (BUT I SAY)

I SHOT THE SHERIFF, BUT I DIDN'T SHOOT THE DEPUTY, WAOH NO
I SHOT THE SHERIFF, BUT I DID NOT SHOOT NO DEPUTY, OH NO