I Shot the Sheriff

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from I Shot The Sheriff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley and released in 1973 with his band the Wailers.

Background

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 criticised despite having much the same theme.[2]

In 2012, 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 replaced the word "doctor" with sheriff.[3]

Certifications

Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom

Eric Clapton version

Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. His performance of the song adds soft rock[4] to the reggae sound.[5] Billboard described this version as being "a catchy goof of a winner" despite not containing a guitar solo.[6] Cash Box called it a "smooth bluesy rocker with lots of guitar, keyboards and strong background harmonies."[7] Record World said that Clapton is "firing straight from the hip, both vocally and riff-wise."[8] Faring better in the charts, it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, his only US number one to date. In 2003, Clapton's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[9] In 2018, a longer version was released on the soundtrack to the documentary Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars. This version extends the instrumental bridge following the vocals.

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart
Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 11
New Zealand[11] 1
South Africa (Springbok)[12] 9
Spain (AFYVE)[13] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 1
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[14] 33
US Cash Box[15] 1
US Record World[16] 1
Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chart
Chart (1982) Peak
position

Year-end charts

Chart (1974) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 97
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 58
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 50
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 76

Certifications

Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom

Other versions

  • In 1997, rapper Warren G interpolated and sampled the song on his hit of the same name.
  • In 2012, New York based reggae band Island Head did an instrumental version on their debut album, Punky Reggae Party.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". This version features saxophonist Timmy Cappello who is known for playing with Tina Turner for 14 years and for his role in the film The Lost Boys. It was produced by Island Head drummer Billy Messinetti and also features Mikey Chung, Andy Bassford and keyboard player David Frank of the System.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  • In 2025, Island Head released a vocal version. Using the 2012 recording, vocalist Billy Messinetti followed the lead saxophone performance played by Timmy Cappello.

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Template:Bob Marley Template:Eric Clapton singles Template:Warren G

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=I_Shot_the_Sheriff&oldid=5511518"