MAIN RIFF:  
  
 | ------------------------------ |  e  
 | ------------------------------ |  B  
 | ------------------------------ |  B  
 | --5--3------------------------ |  D  
 | --------5--3-----5--3--------- |  A  
 | --------------6--------6--3--- |  E    


INTRO: MAIN RIFF  

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


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 2:  
Eb        Dm          Gm  
Sheriff John Brown always hated me  
Eb       Dm         Gm  
For what I don't know  
Eb      Dm          Gm  
Every time that I plant a seed  
Eb         Dm         Gm  
He said "Kill it before it grows"  
Eb       Dm         Gm  
He said "Kill it before it grows"   I say! (play MAIN RIFF)  

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 3:  
Eb         Dm         Gm  
Freedom came my way one day  
Eb          Dm           Gm  
And I started out of town yeah  
Eb           Dm           Gm  
All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown  
Eb            Dm       Gm  
Aiming to shoot me down  
Eb           Dm    Gm  
So I shot, I shot him down    I say! (play MAIN RIFF)  


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 4:  
Eb       Dm         Gm  
Reflexes got the better of me  
Eb       Dm         Gm  
And what is to be must be  
Eb        Dm             Gm  
Every day the bucket falls to the well  
Eb              Dm          Gm  
But one day the bottom will drop out  
Eb            Dm                Gm  
Yes, one day the bottom will drop out   But I say (play MAIN RIFF)  


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   

ENDING:  
Ebm  Dm  Gm  

               Ebm  Dm  Gm  (repeat and fade)