I Shot the Sheriff

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley and released in 1973 with his band the Wailers.

Background

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."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1992, with the controversy surrounding the Ice-T song "Cop Killer", Marley's song was often cited by Ice-T's supporters as evidence of his detractors' hypocrisy, considering that the older song was never similarly criticised despite having much the same theme.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2012, Marley's former girlfriend Esther Anderson claimed 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'" are actually about Marley being very opposed to her use of birth control pills; Marley supposedly replaced the word "doctor" with sheriff.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Eric Clapton version

Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. His performance of the song adds soft rock<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> to the reggae sound.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Billboard described this version as being "a catchy goof of a winner" despite not containing a guitar solo.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Cash Box called it a "smooth bluesy rocker with lots of guitar, keyboards and strong background harmonies."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Record World said that Clapton is "firing straight from the hip, both vocally and riff-wise."<ref name=rw>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Faring better in the charts, it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, his only US number one to date. In 2003, Clapton's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Charts

Weekly charts

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Chart (1974)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	11
New Zealand<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
South Africa (Springbok)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	9
Spain (AFYVE)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	12
US Billboard Hot 100<ref name="awards">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles<ref name="awards"/>	33
US Cash Box<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
US Record World<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1

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Chart (1982)	Peak position

Year-end charts

Chart (1974)	Position
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	97
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	58
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	50
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	76

Warren G version

"I Shot the Sheriff" served as the lead single from American rapper Warren G's second album, Take a Look Over Your Shoulder. Warren replaced Marley's original lyrics with his own, although 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.<ref name="uk"/><ref name="nz"/>

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.Template:Citation needed

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	11
Italy (Musica e dischi)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	11
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)	Position
Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	58
New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	19
Romania (Romanian Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	71
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	77
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	85

Other versions

In 2012, New York based reggae band Island Head did an instrumental version on their debut album, Punky Reggae Party.Template:Cn This version features saxophonist Timmy Cappello who is known for playing with Tina Turner for 14 years and for his role in the film The Lost Boys. It was produced by Island Head drummer Billy Messinetti and also features Mikey Chung, Andy Bassford and keyboard player David Frank of the System.Template:Cn

In 2025, Island Head released a vocal version. Using the 2012 recording, vocalist Billy Messinetti followed the lead saxophone performance played by Timmy Cappello.

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1974
• List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1974
• List of number-one singles of 1974 (Canada)
• List of number-one singles from the 1990s (New Zealand)