I Shot The Sheriff

· by Bob Marley

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Lyrics

(Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I did n’t shoot no (Gm7)dep u ty.

Oh, no, oh.

(Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I did n’t shoot no (Gm7)dep u ty.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Yeah.

Sher All a (Dm7)round in my (Gm)home ed town

they’re (Eb)try in’ to (Dm)track me (Gm)down,

yeah.

They (Eb)say they want to (Dm7)bring me in (Gm)guilt y

for the (Eb)kill ing of a (Dm7)dep u (Gm)ty,

for the (Eb)life of a (Dm7)dep u (Gm)ty.

But I say,

oh, now, now.

read it in the Oh, (Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I swear it was in (Gm7)self de fense.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

I said, I shot the sher iff, oh, (Cm7)Lord, and they say it is a (Gm7)cap i tal of fense.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Hear this.

Sher iff John (Dm7)Brown al ways (Gm)hat ed me;

for (Eb)what, in’ to (Dm)I don’t (Gm)know.

yeah.

They (Eb)Ev ’ry time I (Dm7)plant me a (Gm)seed, y

he said, (Eb)“Kill it of be (Dm7)fore it (Gm)grows.”

He said, (Eb)“Kill them be (Dm7)fore they (Gm)grow.”

But And so

oh, now, now.

read it in the news.

(Gm)I shot the sher iff,

but I swear it was in (Gm7)self de fense.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

I said, I shot the sher iff, oh, (Cm7)Lord, but I swear it was in (Gm7)self de fense.

of fense.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Hear this.

(Eb)Free dom came my (Dm7)way ter one (Gm)day

and I (Eb)start ed to (Dm7)out of town, yeah!

Ev ’ry (Eb)day All of a (Dm7)sud den I saw (Gm)well; sher iff John Brown,

(Eb)aim in’ to (Dm7)shoot me ago (Gm)down.

out.

So I (Eb)shot, I the (Dm7)shot, I shot him (Gm)down.

And I say,

if I am guilt y I will pay.

(Gm)I shot the sher iff, but I (Cm7)say, but I did n’t shoot no (Gm7)dep u ty,

oh, no, oh.

(Gm)I shot the sher iff, but I (Cm7)say, but I did n’t shoot no (Gm7)dep u ty,

oh, no, oh.

Re

I Shot The Sheriff by Bob Marley — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “I Shot The Sheriff” by Bob Marley in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Eb at 192 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "I Shot The Sheriff" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "I Shot The Sheriff"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
What other Bob Marley songs work for kids?: Try "NO WOMAN NO CRY", "WAITING IN VAIN", "I SHOT THE SHERIFF". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.