I SHOT THE SHERIFF
(written by Bob Marley), as performed by Eric Clapton
on the album "461 Ocean Boulevard" (1974)
 ...& innumerable live shows since then.

Tab cleaned up & corrected by cybercat =^_^=
Please make sure you print this out using a MONO-SPACED FONT
 (like Monaco or Courier), or the chords won't line up with the lyrics properly.

Seems the other tabbers got the main riff wrong (!) and either completely
missed the E flat Major 7th (Ebmaj7) in the verse, or else put rather weird
fingerings of the chords. If you study any video, VCD or DVD (or even better,
 ...go to a concert!), you'll see that THIS is what Eric actually plays live: -

Chords
Gm     Cm7    Ebmaj7  Dm7
3       3      #       5
3       4      8       6
3       3      7       5
5       5      8       7
5       3      6       5
3       #      #       #


MAIN RIFF:
h = hammer on
> = slide up
|----------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------|
|->5----3--------------------------------------|
|------------5----3--1-h3->5----3----1---------|
|-----------------------------------------3----|


CHORUS:

Gm                  Cm                       Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
Gm                  Cm                       Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy


VERSE 1:

Ebmaj7  Dm         Gm
All around in my home town
        Ebmaj7    Dm       Gm
They're trying to track me down
     Ebmaj7    Dm             Gm
They say they want to bring me in guilty
        Ebmaj7      Dm   Gm
For the killing of a deputy
         Ebmaj7   Dm     Gm
For the life of a deputy    But I say... (play MAIN RIFF)


CHORUS:

Gm              Cm                    Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defence
Gm              Cm                    Gm
I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offence


VERSE 2:

 Ebmaj7       Dm          Gm
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
     Ebmaj7   Dm    Gm
For what I don't know
Ebmaj7  Dm          Gm
Every time that I plant a seed
        Ebmaj7    Dm         Gm
He said "Kill it before it grows"
         Ebmaj7    Dm         Gm
He said "Kill it before it grows"   I say!

(play MAIN RIFF)


CHORUS:

Gm                 Cm                      Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defence
Gm                 Cm                      Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defence


VERSE 3:

Ebmaj7    Dm         Gm
Freedom came my way one day
                 Ebmaj7 Dm      Gm
And I started out of town yeah
Ebmaj7      Dm           Gm
All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown
Ebmaj7       Dm     Gm
Aiming to shoot me down
    Ebmaj7         Dm    Gm
So I shot, I shot him down    I say!

(play MAIN RIFF)


CHORUS:

Gm                 Cm                       Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
Gm                 Cm                       Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy


VERSE 4:

Ebmaj7 Dm         Gm
Reflexes got the better of me
           Ebmaj7      Dm     Gm
And what is to be must be
                    Ebmaj7  Dm             Gm
Every day the bucket falls to the well
     Ebmaj7       Dm          Gm
But one day the bottom will drop out
       Ebmaj7              Dm            Gm
Yes, one day the bottom will drop out   But I say

(play MAIN RIFF)


CHORUS:

Gm                 Cm                       Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no
Gm                 Cm                       Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot no deputy, oh no


ENDING:  Cm  Dm  Gm
         Cm  Dm  Gm  (repeat and fade)