Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "I Shot The Sheriff" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn I Shot The Sheriff Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Eric Clapton

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "I Shot The Sheriff" smoothly on your guitar.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

Chorus:
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

D#    Dm         Gm
All around in my home town
D#                 Dm       Gm
They're trying to track me down
  D#                   Dm          Gm
They say they want to bring me in guilty
         D#           Dm  Gm
For the killing of a deputy
         D#       Dm   Gm
For the life of a deputy
But I say?

Chorus:
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offense

Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what I don't know
Every time that I plant a seed
He said, "Kill it before it grows"
He said, "Kill it before it grows"
I say

Chorus:
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offense

Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town
All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot him down
I say

Chorus:
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy

Reflexes got the better of me
And what is to be must be
Every day the bucket goes to the well
But one day the bottom will drop out
Yes, one day the bottom will drop out
But I say

Chorus:
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

Cm

Guitar chord Cm

Dm

Guitar chord Dm

D#

Guitar chord D#

Gm

Guitar chord Gm

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "I Shot The Sheriff" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "I Shot The Sheriff" by Eric Clapton.

Eric Clapton Song List