1 decade ago. Hmm.. Bob Marley was meanna be quite a hit with the women, like he slept around a LOT, so had like a million kids, so maybe John Brown is some guy who disliked this fact?? All of a sudden I saw sheriff John Brown Aiming to shoot me down, So I shot - I shot - I shot him down and I say: If I am guilty I will pay. if you look at the context of the story, obviously he shot a corrupt sheriff who by being the criminal that he was didn't deserve to be called a deputy. Relevance. Does it mean anything special hidden I Shot the Sheriff is a song performed by Bob Marley and the Wailers. what are your all time favorite lyrics, one or two lines? aw. (I shot the sheriff.) What's that Paul McCartney song that goes like, "Ohhh, I think I'm going dowwwwn?"? b. Find more of Bob Marley lyrics. Oh! Ask us or our community about the part of the song that interests you, We will try to respond as soon as possible. Along comes sheriff John Brown who says “Your little garden is illegal. I did! Provide song facts, names, places and other worthy info that may Add links, pictures and videos to make your explanation more Share your meaning with community, make it The bass drum has a one-drop rhythm where it falls on the 2 and 4. Sheriff John Brown always hated me, For what, I don't know. You aren't allowed to self medicate with that plant. Don't hesitate to explain what songwriters and singer wanted to say. I Shot The Sheriff lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group. Hence I admit that I shot the sheriff but that SOB was no deputy in my book. The meaning of this song is often misconstrued and being simply that he literally shot the sheriff of the law. by our users: Please, do not delete tags "[e=***][/e]", because they responsible for The narrator claims to have acted in self-defense when the sheriff tried to shoot him. contributions. What does the song mean? Describe the lyrics of “I Shot the Sheriff ” a. Patrick from Tallapoosa, Ga When Dekalb County, GA sheriff-elect Derwin Brown was shot outside of his home December 15, 2000, and after Sidney Dorsey, who was the former sheriff, was found guilty of the murder, a local radio station did a parody of this song, replacing "John Brown" with "Derwin Brown". Makes perfect sense. Know what this song is about? 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." appealing. The guitar is on the upbeat. The meaning of this song is often misconstrued and being simply that he literally shot the sheriff... Before you get started, be sure to check out these explanations created Marley, within the context of the song, finds it prudent, even necessary, to shoot the sheriff. Create an account to credit all your contributions to your name, receive 3. Hidden between the lines, words and thoughts sometimes hold many different, Remember: your meaning might be valuable for someone, Don't post links to images and links to facts, Don't spam and write clearly off-topic meanings, Don't write abusive, vulgar, offensive, racist, threatening or harassing meanings, Do not post anything that you do not have the right to post. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. Still have questions? Describe what artist is trying to say in a certain line, whether If this song really means something special to you, describe your feelings and thoughts. Create What is the meaning behind these lyrics in the song "I shot the Sheriff" by Bob Marley. Answer Save. Oh! However, he is falsely accused of shooting and killing the deputy sheriff of his area … Oh! ? How do you get ownership of your music? Highlight lyrics and request an explanation. Who sings the song  Of course marijuana is illegal in Jamaica and a sheriff would love to bust any Rastaman especially a top ranking reggae star. it's personal feelings, strong statement or something else. Every time I plant a seed, He said kill it before it grow - He said kill them before they grow. (I shot the sheriff,) But I say (But I didn't shoot no deputy), I didn't shoot no deputy (oh, no-oh), oh no! Surface level i. “I heard how all the lights went out in Memphis“? Just curious what you were thinking. The genre is recognizable as reggae primarily because of its feel. rewards, status updates and get feedback from our community. Bob Marley and the Wailers' 1973 classic "I Shot the Sheriff" seems simple. What is the message of the song? interesting and valuable. Make sure you've read our simple. So I shot - I shot - I shot him down and I say: If I am guilty I will pay. He could also just be saying it figuratively meaning every time he starts something progressive he is stopped by babylon or the oppressive forces in our societies.