I Shot the Sheriff

"I Shot the Sheriff"
Single by Warren G
from the album Take a Look Over Your Shoulder
Released	February 10, 1997
Format	Vinyl; cassette; CD;
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:10
Label	Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Bob Marley; Warren Griffin;
Producer(s)	Warren G
Warren G singles chronology

"I Shot the Sheriff"
	A-side label of the original 1974 UK vinyl release
Single by Eric Clapton
from the album 461 Ocean Boulevard
Released	1974
Format	12" single
Genre	Soft rock; reggae;
Length	4:26 (album version); 3:30 (single version);
Label	RSO
Songwriter(s)	Bob Marley
Producer(s)	Tom Dowd

"I Shot the Sheriff"
	Artwork of original German vinyl release
Single by Bob Marley and the Wailers
from the album Burnin'
Released	1973
Format	12" single
Recorded	April 1973
Studio	Harry J. Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
Genre	Reggae
Length	4:41
Label	Tuff Gong; Island;
Songwriter(s)	Bob Marley
Producer(s)	Chris Blackwell; The Wailers;

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Bob Marley and released in 1973 by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Bob Marley and the Wailers version[edit]

The narrator claims to have acted in self-defense when the sheriff tried to shoot him. 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."^[1]

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 criticized despite having much the same theme.^[2]

In 2012, Bob 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 substituted the word "doctor" with sheriff.^[3]

Eric Clapton version[edit]

Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. His take on the song has a soft rock^[4] and reggae sound.^[5] It is the most successful version of the song, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2003, Clapton's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.^[6]

Chart performance[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1974)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[7]	11
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[8]	19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[9]	7
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[10]	1
Germany (Official German Charts)^[11]	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[12]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[13]	5
New Zealand^[14]	1
Norway (VG-lista)^[15]	3
South Africa (Springbok)^[16]	9
Spain (AFYVE)^[17]	12
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[18]	9
US Billboard Hot 100^[19]	1
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles^[19]	33
US Cash Box^[20]	1
US Record World^[21]	1

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)^[22]	23
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[23]	64

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1974)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[24]	58
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[25]	11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26]	50
US Billboard Hot 100^[27]	76

Certifications[edit]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[28]	Gold	1,000,000^{^}
^{^}shipments figures based on certification alone

Warren G version[edit]

"I Shot the Sheriff" was the lead single released from 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Charts and certifications[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[29]	8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[30]	18
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)^[31]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[32]	31
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[33]	6
France (SNEP)^[34]	30
Germany (Official German Charts)^[35]	27
Ireland (IRMA)^[22]	11
Italy (FIMI)^[36]	11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[37]	63
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[38]	1
Norway (VG-lista)^[39]	19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[40]	11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[41]	12
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[42]	2
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)^[43]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[44]	20
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles^[44]	16
US Billboard Hot Rap Singles^[44]	5

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1997)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[45]	58
Italy (FIMI)^[36]	90
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[46]	19
US Billboard Hot 100^[47]	85

Certifications[edit]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[48]	Gold	35,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[49]	Gold	5,000^*
United States (RIAA)^[51]	Gold	600,000^[50]
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^{^}shipments figures based on certification alone

References[edit]

^ "I Shot The Sheriff". Archived from the original on 29 January 1998.. Island Trading Inc.
^ Hamm, Mark; Ferrell, Jeff "Rap, cops, and crime: clarifying the 'cop killer' controversy". Archived from the original on 6 April 2004.. Institute for Jewish Policy Research. Axt.org.uk.
^ Colagrande, J.J. (19 April 2012). "Bob Marley's Ex-Girlfriend Brings Her Own Marley Documentary to Miami". Miami New Times. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
^ Smith, Chris (2006). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History: From Arenas to the Underground, 1974–1980. Greenwood Press. p. 102. ISBN 0-313-32937-0.
^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Fireside. p. 165. ISBN 0-394-72107-1.
^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame – i". Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3841a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Billboard – Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 86 no. 45. 9 November 1974. p. 50. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (C)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
^ ^a ^b "461 Ocean Boulevard – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 7, 1974". Archived from the original on 3 October 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
^ "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. 7 September 1974. p. 25. ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Shot the Sheriff". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 1974" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "The Top 200 Singles of '74". RPM. Vol. 22 no. 14. 28 December 1974. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1974" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Top 100 Hits for 1974". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "American single certifications – Eric Clapton – I Shot the Sheriff". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
^ "Australian-charts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Ultratop.be – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Ultratop.be – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Warren G: I Shot the Sheriff" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Lescharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ ^a ^b "I singoli più venduti del 1997" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Charts.nz – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
^ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Warren G – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1997". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
^ "Top 100 Hits for 1997". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Recorded Music NZ.
^ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Vol. 110 no. 5. 31 January 1998. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ "American single certifications – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.

External links[edit]

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

[1] "I Shot The Sheriff". Archived from the original on 29 January 1998.. Island Trading Inc.

[2] Hamm, Mark; Ferrell, Jeff "Rap, cops, and crime: clarifying the 'cop killer' controversy". Archived from the original on 6 April 2004.. Institute for Jewish Policy Research. Axt.org.uk.

[3] Colagrande, J.J. (19 April 2012). "Bob Marley's Ex-Girlfriend Brings Her Own Marley Documentary to Miami". Miami New Times. Retrieved 15 November 2015.

[4] Smith, Chris (2006). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History: From Arenas to the Underground, 1974–1980. Greenwood Press. p. 102. ISBN 0-313-32937-0.

[5] Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Fireside. p. 165. ISBN 0-394-72107-1.

[6] "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame – i". Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Retrieved 21 December 2012.

[7] "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Austria_Eric_Clapton-8] "Austriancharts.at – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Flanders_Eric_Clapton-9] "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-10] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3841a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

[sc_Germany2_Eric_Clapton-11] "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Dutch40_Eric_Clapton_-_I_Shot_The_Sheriff-12] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Dutch100_Eric_Clapton-13] "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[14] "Billboard – Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 86 no. 45. 9 November 1974. p. 50. ISSN 0006-2510.

[sc_Norway_Eric_Clapton-15] "Norwegiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[16] "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (C)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[17] Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.

[sc_UK_-18] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

[awards-19] "461 Ocean Boulevard – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

[20] "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 7, 1974". Archived from the original on 3 October 2012.. Cash Box magazine.

[21] "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. 7 September 1974. p. 25. ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved 17 September 2017.

[sc_Ireland2_-22] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Shot the Sheriff". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

[sc_United_Kingdom_-23] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

[24] "Jaaroverzichten 1974" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[25] "The Top 200 Singles of '74". RPM. Vol. 22 no. 14. 28 December 1974. Retrieved 20 May 2016.

[26] "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1974" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[27] "Top 100 Hits for 1974". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[United_StatesEric_ClaptonI_Shot_the_SheriffsingleCertRef-28] "American single certifications – Eric Clapton – I Shot the Sheriff". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.

[sc_Australia_Warren_G-29] "Australian-charts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Austria_Warren_G-30] "Austriancharts.at – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Flanders_Tip_Warren_G-31] "Ultratop.be – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Wallonia_Warren_G-32] "Ultratop.be – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Finland_Warren_G-33] "Warren G: I Shot the Sheriff" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_France_Warren_G-34] "Lescharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Germany2_Warren_G-35] "Offiziellecharts.de – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[IT-36] "I singoli più venduti del 1997" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Dutch100_Warren_G-37] "Dutchcharts.nl – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_New_Zealand_Warren_G-38] "Charts.nz – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Norway_Warren_G-39] "Norwegiancharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Sweden_Warren_G-40] "Swedishcharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_Switzerland_Warren_G-41] "Swisscharts.com – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[sc_UK_Warren_G-42] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

[sc_UKrandb_-43] "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 March 2016.

[awards2-44] "Warren G – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

[45] "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1997". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[46] "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 December 2017.

[47] "Top 100 Hits for 1997". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

[AustraliaWarren_GI_Shot_the_SheriffsingleCertRef-48] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.

[New_ZealandWarren_GI_Shot_the_SheriffsingleCertRef-49] "New Zealand single certifications – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Recorded Music NZ.

[50] "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Vol. 110 no. 5. 31 January 1998. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510.

[United_StatesWarren_GI_Shot_the_SheriffsingleCertRef-51] "American single certifications – Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.

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I Shot the Sheriff

Contents

Bob Marley and the Wailers version[edit]

Eric Clapton version[edit]

Chart performance[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Year-end charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Warren G version[edit]

Charts and certifications[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Year-end charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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"I Shot the Sheriff"
Artwork of original German vinyl release
Single by Bob Marley and the Wailers
from the album Burnin'
Released	1973
Format	12" single
Recorded	April 1973
Studio	Harry J. Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
Genre	Reggae
Length	4:41
Label	Tuff Gong Island
Songwriter(s)	Bob Marley
Producer(s)	Chris Blackwell The Wailers

"I Shot the Sheriff"
A-side label of the original 1974 UK vinyl release
Single by Eric Clapton
from the album 461 Ocean Boulevard
Released	1974
Format	12" single
Genre	Soft rock reggae
Length	4:26 (album version) 3:30 (single version)
Label	RSO
Songwriter(s)	Bob Marley
Producer(s)	Tom Dowd