I SHOT THE SHERIFF
Eric Clapton

from the album "461 Ocean Boulevard" (1974)


transcribed by Steve Garner (s_garner@hotmail.com)


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:

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

MAIN RIFF:
|------------------------------|
|------------------------------|
|------------------------------|
|--5--3------------------------|
|--------5--3--1--5--3--1------|
|--------------------------3---|

CHORUS:

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


VERSE 2:

Cm      Dm          Gm
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
Cm     Dm         Gm
For what I don't know
Cm     Dm          Gm
Every time that I plant a seed
  Cm             Dm         Gm
He said "Kill it before it grows"
  Cm             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-defense
Gm                 Cm                      Gm
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense


VERSE 3:

Cm      Dm         Gm
Freedom came my way one day
Cm      Dm           Gm
And I started out of town yeah
Cm        Dm           Gm
All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown
Cm         Dm       Gm
Aiming to shoot me down
   Cm   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:

Cm     Dm         Gm
Reflexes got the better of me
Cm     Dm         Gm
And what is to be must be
Cm     Dm             Gm
Every day the bucket falls to the well
Cm              Dm          Gm
But one day the bottom will drop out
Cm        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)


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comments, corrections: s_garner@hotmail.com