I Shot the Sheriff

"I Shot the Sheriff"
Single by The Wailers
from the album Burnin'
Released 1973
Format 12" single
Recorded April 1973, Harry J. Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
Genre Reggae
Length 4:41
Label
Writer(s) Bob Marley
Producer(s)

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Bob Marley and released in 1973. It has been covered by Eric Clapton and Warren G.

Theme

The story is told from the point of view of a narrator who admits to having killed the local sheriff, and claims to be falsely accused of having killed the deputy sheriff. The narrator 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]

In 1992, with the controversy surrounding the Ice-T heavy metal song "Cop Killer", Marley's song was often cited by Ice-T's supporters as evidence of his detractors' hypocrisy considering the older song was never similarly criticized despite having much the same theme.[2]

In 2012, Bob Marley's former girlfriend revealed the origin of the lyrics. To the surprise of many, she explained that the lyrics, "Sheriff John Brown always hated me, For what, I don't know: Every time I plant a seed, He said kill it before it grow" was actually in response to the fact that Marley was very opposed to her use of birth control pills. Marley's opposition to birth control led Marley to substitute the word "sheriff" for "doctor".[3]

Eric Clapton version

"I Shot the Sheriff"
Single by Eric Clapton
from the album 461 Ocean Boulevard
Released July 1974
Format 12" single
Recorded
Genre
Length
  • 4:26 (album version)
  • 3:30 (single version)
Label RSO
Writer(s) Bob Marley
Producer(s) Tom Dowd

Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. His take on the song belongs to the musical genres of soft rock[4] and reggae.[5] It is the most successful cover version of the song, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2003, Clapton's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[6]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 11
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 7
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[10] 2
Canada (CHUM)[11] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 1
France (IFOP)[13] 28
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 5
New Zealand[17] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[18] 3
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[19] 11
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 1
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[21] 33
US Cash Box[22] 1
US Record World[23] 1
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 23
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[25] 64

Year-end charts

Chart (1974) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 58
Canada (RPM Top 200)[27] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 50
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 76

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 1,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
"(You're) Having My Baby" by Paul Anka		 Canadian CHUM number-one single
31 August 1974 – 21 September 1974 (four weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Another Saturday Night" by Cat Stevens
Canadian RPM number-one single
7 September 1974 – 14 September 1974 (two weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Rock Me Gently" by Andy Kim
US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
14 September 1974 (one week) 		Succeeded by
"Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" by Barry White
Preceded by
"Tell Me Something Good" by Rufus		 US Cash Box number-one single
7 September 1974 (one week)

Warren G version

"I Shot the Sheriff"
Single by Warren G
from the album Take a Look Over Your Shoulder
Released 10 February 1997
Format
Recorded 1996
Genre Hip hop
Length 4:10
Label Def Jam
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Warren G
Warren G singles chronology
"What's Love Got to Do with It"
(1996)		 "I Shot the Sheriff"
(1997)		 "Smokin' Me Out"
(1997)

"I Shot the Sheriff" was the lead single released from Warren G's second album, Take a Look Over Your Shoulder. Warren replaced Marley's original lyrics with his own, though Clapton's version of the song is sampled and R&B singer Nancy Fletcher sings the original chorus. The song was a hit in several countries. In the US, it peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the RIAA on 2 May 1997. It peaked at number two in the UK and at number one in New Zealand.

The official remix was produced by EPMD member Erick Sermon, it is based around EPMD's "Strictly Business", which also sampled Clapton's version of the song.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[31] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[32] 18
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[33] 16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[34] 31
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[35] 6
France (SNEP)[36] 30
Germany (Official German Charts)[37] 27
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 11
Italy (FIMI)[38] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[39] 63
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[40] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[41] 19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 12
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[44] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[45] 20
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[45] 16
US Billboard Hot Rap Singles[45] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (1997) Position
Australia (ARIA)[46] 58
Italy (FIMI)[38] 90
US Billboard Hot 100[47] 85

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[48] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[49] Gold 7,500*
United States (RIAA)[50] Gold 600,000[51]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
"Cold Rock a Party" by MC Lyte		 New Zealand number-one single
13 April 1997 – 20 April 1997 (two weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera

Later samplings, allusions and covers

  • On the 16 February 1977 episode of The Jacksons, "I Shot the Sheriff" was mashed up with "Cisco Kid" and was led by singer Michael Jackson in an old western bar scene.
  • British band, Light of the World recorded a jazzed-up version in 1980.
  • 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 put six up in the deputy" in the title track.
  • In the 1994 hip hop mockumentary Fear of a Black Hat, a scene involving gangsta rapper Ice Cold (Rusty Cundieff) getting pulled over by a gated community’s security guard unit has one guard confiscating one of his registered guns and sarcastically says: "Let me guess…you shot the sheriff, but you didn’t shoot the deputy."
  • On Erik Truffaz' 1998 album The Dawn, the final track "Free Stylin'" with vocals by Nya contains the lyric "Bob shot the sheriff; me, I come to finish the deputy."
  • Screamin' Jay Hawkins, in At Last, 1998.
  • Bob Marley's children "Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers" have performed the song during their concerts, most notably at Chiemsee Reggae Summer in Germany in July 2000.
  • In 2000, the song was 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 The Simpsons episode #248 ("Behind the Laughter"), Marge Simpson performs the opening of the song as part of a nightclub act. She then tells her audience, "So next time you see a sheriff, shoot him.... a smile!"
  • In The Sopranos episode 4.11 ("Calling All Cars"), which aired in 2002, Eric Clapton's rendition can be heard playing in the background when Tony Soprano is on the phone with Svetlana. Ten episodes earlier (in episode 4.1, "For All Debts Public and Private"), Tony had set up his protege Christopher Moltisanti to kill Detective Barry Haydu on the night of Haydu's retirement party.
  • 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" (Women's World Day), when played alive on his Honestidad Brutal tour.
  • In the song "Be Free" by Bob's son Ziggy Marley, a brief line in the song says: "I shot the deputy, now you know." Ziggy was four years old when his father's song was released.
  • In the Eureka episode 'Reprise' (4.12), characters are acting out song lyrics, including Jo who shoots Carter under this song's influence.
  • The song can be heard during a cut-scene in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (2012).
  • Sheriff John Brown is mentioned in the song "Bad Boys" by reggae group Inner Circle.
  • Drum and bass artst Roni Size released a remix of the song for the Legend: Remixed album in 2013.
  • In 2014, production duo N.A.S.A. and singer Karen O covered the song, which was used in a Sonos commercial that aired during the Super Bowl.[52]

Cover versions in other languages

Country Artist Title
Sweden Just D (1995) "Jag sköt sheriffen"
Ukraine BoomBox (2005) "Хто наклав у бобік"
Spain Ermitaños Del Rio (2005) "Yo disparé al sargentillo"
Germany Knorkator (2008) "Ich erschoss den Kommissar"
Germany We Butter the Bread with Butter (2008) I "Shot the Sheriff"
Egypt Feel El Neel (2012) "Ana Takheet El-Zabet"[53]
Ivory Coast Alpha Blondy (2013) "J'ai tué le commissaire"
Finland Kirka (1975) "Taas nousen junaan"

References

  1. ↑ I Shot The Sheriff at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 January 1998). Island Trading Inc. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Hamm, Mark; Ferrell, Jeff. "Rap, cops, and crime: clarifying the 'cop killer' controversy". Institute for Jewish Policy Research. Axt.org.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  3. ↑ Colagrande, J.J. (19 April 2012). "Bob Marley's Ex-Girlfriend Brings Her Own Marley Documentary to Miami". Miami New Times. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Smith, Chris (2006). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History: From Arenas to the Underground, 1974–1980. Greenwood Press. p. 102. ISBN 0-313-32937-0.
  5. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Fireside. p. 165. ISBN 0-394-72107-1.
  6. ↑ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame – i". Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Radio 2 Top 30 : 19 oktober 1974" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  11. ↑ CHART NUMBER 919 – Saturday, August 31, 1974 at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 November 2006). CHUM. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3841a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Eric Clapton" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "Billboard – Hits Of The World". Billboard 86 (45): 50. 9 November 1974. ISSN 0006-2510.
  18. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (C)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1974-08-17" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  21. 1 2 "461 Ocean Boulevard – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  22. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 7, 1974 at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 October 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  23. ↑ RECORD WORLD 1974 at the Wayback Machine (archived 28 June 2004). Record World. Geocities.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  24. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Shot the Sheriff". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Eric Clapton: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  26. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1974" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  27. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 22, No. 19, December 28, 1974". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  28. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1974" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1974". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "American single certifications – Eric Clapton – I Shot the Sheriff". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  31. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Warren G: I Shot the Sheriff" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  38. 1 2 "I singoli più venduti del 1997" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  39. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  41. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  43. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1997-02-22" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  45. 1 2 3 "Warren G – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  46. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1997". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1997". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  48. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  49. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
  50. ↑ "American single certifications – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  51. ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard 110 (5): 76. 31 January 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
  52. ↑ "Karen O and N.A.S.A.'s 'I Shot the Sheriff' Cover Gets Animated Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  53. ↑ "I Shot the sheriff remix/ ana ta7'eit el zabet /أنا طخيت الظابط". YouTube. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

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