I Shot The Sheriff (5:18)

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“I Shot the Sheriff” is a song written by Bob Marley. The song was first released on The Wailers’ album Burnin’.

Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his album, 461 Ocean Boulevard. It is the most successful version of the song, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Clapton’s only chart-topping hit in the U.S.

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.” — Bob Marley

During the controversy over the Body Count song “Cop Killer”, it was frequently pointed out that there were no similar complaints about Marley’s song even though they had similar themes.

Tagged as:

reggae, bob marley, 70s, roots reggae, mellow
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drewvibes wrote:
9 days ago

bob marley number one .. love yah.

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mouuni wrote:
22 days ago

alt..und einfach nur spitze.

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gabethevegan wrote:
last month

Name me a Track that was better than the Original of this,Please!...dont get me wrong this guy was a one of the greatest artists of the Seventies and his music is ageless..He left us to soon..Gabe

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gabethevegan wrote:
last month

Mazchiili the version i play on my iTunes is the original but i assume that the above version is the nearest they can find on last.fm The Early tracks and sounds with the Wailers have a sound as clear as a mornig bell,The Choruses and backing vocals are magic.Too rough for Pop ears of the Seventies.Poss the Jaded tastes of Island record execs meant that they tried to dilute and clean-up Bob's sound.at the risk of harping on Eric's version should never be played except as a lession...My God it's an Abomination...Just heard it again on my iPod which was on random play..evil..Gabe

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far7east8boy wrote:
last month

BOB MARLEY LEGEND!!!!

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mazchili wrote:
last month

this is a gr8 song but the original is miles better. bunny and peter had much sweeter melodies.

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somasoma wrote:
last month

if i listen to this song once, it gets stuck in my head for a week. i love it <3

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velcrobunny wrote:
September 2009

V V V i agree wiff you down below me,, true.

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pazswife wrote:
September 2009

I like this version better than Clapton's but still... my least favorite Marley song. Way too overplayed and he has so much stuff that is so much better.

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klHaxe wrote:
September 2009

ich kann es nur nochmal sagen...willkommen in der guten alten Zeit....da kommen doch viele Erinnerungen wieder ans Tageslicht .......einfach schöööön yeah

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gabethevegan wrote:
August 2009

Eric's was shite,for years couldna listen to Bobs because of that exscruciating pile of Pooh perpetrated by a Guitarist the once called God, what went wrong. their is some fab stuff on 461,His Version of motherless children is pearless.But his cover of this, bow yr head in shame Mr Clapton This track is my fave Bob Marley track amongst much gold that he made i love this, the backing vocals the lyrics..they have a folkiness about them and timeless quality.But the sound quality is very sphisticated...you had to be there in benighted Blighty in the 70's to appreciate the effect Bob Marley had on Britain................. Every day the bucket a-go a well, One day the bottom a-go drop out, One day the bottom a-go drop out.

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sgtkillzone wrote:
August 2009

I like both version of this song Eric Clapton version and Bob Marley version

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XXXnicoletteXXX wrote:
August 2009

eh. i don't really like this version.

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skeightboard wrote:
August 2009

Oh Now Now

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dazmusic wrote:
July 2009

bob was a yardie :)

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klHaxe wrote:
July 2009

Die Jugend ist zurück ...... Einfach genial :-)

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ManoliCliment wrote:
July 2009

simplemente GENIAL!!!

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oseland wrote:
June 2009

when he talks about his seed...is he talking about weed, crops, or children?

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bolc wrote:
June 2009

i shot the sheriff-congratulations!

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Berndinho wrote:
June 2009

Do I have to push the "I love this song" button extra?

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