I Shot the Sheriff

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Eric Clapton, told from the point of view of a man who admits to having killed the local sheriff, but claims to be falsely accused of having killed the deputy sheriff. He also claims to have acted in self defense when the sheriff tried to shoot him. The song was first released in 1973 on The Wailers' album Burnin'. Marley explained his intention as follows: "I want to say 'I shot The Police' but the government would have made a fuss so I said 'I shot the sheriff' instead... but it's the same idea: justice."^[1]

Eric Clapton version

Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his album, 461 Ocean Boulevard. It is the most successful version of the song, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Clapton's only #1 hit song in the U.S.

Clapton's version is in the natural-minor system in the key of G, featuring the only occasional chromaticism in that system, the ♭VI7 chord.^[2]

During the controversey over the Body Count song "Cop Killer", it was frequently pointed out that there were no similar complaints about Eric Clapton's highly popular cover of Marley's song even though they had similar themes.^[3]

Chart performance

Year-End Chart

Later samplings, allusions, and covers

On EPMD's 1988 "Strictly Business" LP, the title track uses a sample of "I Shot the Sheriff" (Clapton's Version).

In Mary J. Blige's 1992 debut album ("What's the 411?"), Grand Puba declared "I shot the sheriff AND the motherfuckin' deputy" in the title track.

In 1997, rapper/producer Warren G covered the song for his Take a Look over Your Shoulder (Reality) album. This version peaked at #20 on the Hot 100. It hit #1 in New Zealand.

In 2000, the song has been covered in a ska-punk version by Voodoo Glow Skulls on their album Symbolic. It was also covered by former American Idol contestant Jason Castro in 2008.

In 2004, Tom Morello, under his persona, The Nightwatchman, borrowed and changed lyrics from the song during his performance of Until the End, as part of the Axis of Justice Concert Series Volume 1. The lyrics he used were: "...three times I shot the sheriff; and did not spare the deputy". A studio version of the song was later released on his album One Man Revolution.

Argentine singer Andrés Calamaro made a mashup of the first verse of the song with the last one of his own “El Dia Mundial de la Mujer” (World Women Day), when played alive on his ‘Honestidad Brutal’ tour.

Cover versions in other languages

References