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(Top) 1 Bob Marley and the Wailers version 1.1 Certifications 2 Eric Clapton version 2.1 Chart performance 2.1.1 Weekly charts 2.1.2 Year-end charts 2.2 Certifications 3 Warren G version 3.1 Charts and certifications 3.1.1 Weekly charts 3.1.2 Year-end charts 3.1.3 Certifications 4 See also 5 References

I Shot the Sheriff

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"I Shot the Sheriff"

German vinyl release

SinglebyBob Marley and the Wailers

from the album Burnin'

Released

12 February 1973^[1]

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

Bob Marley and the Wailers singles chronology

"Keep On Moving"
(1972)

"I Shot the Sheriff"
(1973)

"Concrete Jungle"
(1973)

Audio

"I Shot the Sheriff" by Bob Marley and the WailersonYouTube

Live video

"I Shot the Sheriff" (1977 live) by Bob Marley and the WailersonYouTube

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

Bob Marley and the Wailers version[edit]

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."^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

Certifications[edit]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[5]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Eric Clapton version[edit]

"I Shot the Sheriff"

A-side of the original 1974 UK vinyl release

SinglebyEric Clapton

from the album 461 Ocean Boulevard

B-side

"Give Me Strength"

Released

1974

Genre

Blues rock

reggae rock

Length

4:26 (album version)

3:30 (single version)

Eric Clapton singles chronology

"Let It Rain"
(1972)

"I Shot the Sheriff"
(1974)

"Willie and the Hand Jive"
(1974)

Audio

"I Shot the Sheriff" (album version) by Eric ClaptononYouTube

"I Shot the Sheriff" (full-length version) by Eric ClaptononYouTube

Live video

"I Shot the Sheriff" (2010 live) by Eric ClaptononYouTube

Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. His performance of the song adds soft rock^[6] to the reggae sound.^[7] Billboard described this version as being "a catchy goof of a winner" despite not containing a guitar solo.^[8] Cash Box called it a "smooth bluesy rocker with lots of guitar, keyboards and strong background harmonies."^[9] Record World said that Clapton is "firing straight from the hip, both vocally and riff-wise."^[10] 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.^[11]

Chart performance[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1974)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[12]	11
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[13]	19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[14]	7
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[15]	1
Germany (Official German Charts)^[16]	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[17]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[18]	5
New Zealand^[19]	1
Norway (VG-lista)^[20]	3
South Africa (Springbok)^[21]	9
Spain (AFYVE)^[22]	12
UK Singles (OCC)^[23]	9
USBillboard Hot 100^[24]	1
USBillboard Hot Soul Singles^[24]	33
USCash Box^[25]	1
USRecord World^[26]	1

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)^[27]	23
UK Singles (OCC)^[28]	64

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1974)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[29]	97
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[30]	58
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[31]	11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[32]	50
USBillboard Hot 100^[33]	76

Certifications[edit]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[34]	Gold	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Warren G version[edit]

"I Shot the Sheriff"

SinglebyWarren G

from the album Take a Look Over Your Shoulder

Released

February 3, 1997^[35]

Genre

Hip hop

Length

4:10

Label

Def Jam

Songwriter(s)

Bob Marley

Warren Griffin

Producer(s)

Warren G

Warren G singles chronology

"What's Love Got to Do with It"
(1996)

"I Shot the Sheriff"
(1997)

"Smokin' Me Out"
(1997)

Music video

"I Shot the Sheriff"onYouTube

"I Shot the Sheriff" is 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.^[36]^[37]

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)^[38]	8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[39]	18
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[40]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[41]	31
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[42]	11
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[43]	6
France (SNEP)^[44]	30
Germany (Official German Charts)^[45]	27
Ireland (IRMA)^[27]	11
Italy (Musica e dischi)^[46]	11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[47]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[48]	63
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[37]	1
Norway (VG-lista)^[49]	19
Scotland (OCC)^[50]	9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[51]	11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[52]	12
UK Singles (OCC)^[36]	2
UK Dance (OCC)^[53]	8
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[54]	1
USBillboard Hot 100^[55]	20
USDance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[56]	26
USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[57]	16
USHot Rap Songs (Billboard)^[58]	5

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1997)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[59]	58
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[60]	19
UK Singles (OCC)^[61]	77
USBillboard Hot 100^[62]	85

Certifications[edit]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[63]	Gold	35,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[64]	Gold	5,000^*
United States (RIAA)^[66]	Gold	600,000^[65]
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

^ "Bob Marley & the Wailers – I Shot the Sheriff". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 7 December 2020.

^ "I Shot the Sheriff". Island Trading Inc. Archived from the original on 29 January 1998.

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

^ 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.

^ "British single certifications – Jean Sebastian Bach & The Wailers – I Shot the Sheriff". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 June 2021.

^ 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.

^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 29 June 1974. p. 78. Retrieved 22 July 2020.

^ "Singles Reviews > Picks of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXVI, no. 7. 29 June 1974. p. 18. Retrieved 11 December 2021.

^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 29 June 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 16 March 2023.

^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame – i". Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2012.

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

^ "Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "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.

^ "Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1974" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "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.

^ "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. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

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

^ "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.

^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. 30 December 1974. Retrieved 15 January 2022 – via Imgur.

^ "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.

^ Smith, Shawnee (1 February 1997). "Def Jam Shoots Straight for Int'l Market for Warren G Set" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 5. pp. 21, 28. ISSN 0006-2510.

^ ^a ^b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.

^ ^a ^b "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 10. 8 March 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

^ "Warren G: I Shot the Sheriff" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 14. 5 April 1997. p. 48. Retrieved 4 June 2020.

^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 11, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 April 2023.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Warren G – I Shot the Sheriff". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 March 2016.

^ "Warren G Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2023.

^ "Warren G Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2023.

^ "Warren G Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2023.

^ "Warren G Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2023.

^ "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 26 May 2020.

^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.

^ "Top 100 Hits for 1997". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). 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.

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Studio albums

The Wailing Wailers (1965)
Soul Rebels (1970)
Soul Revolution Part II (1971)
The Best of the Wailers (1971)
Catch a Fire (1973)
Burnin' (1973)
Natty Dread (1974)
Rastaman Vibration (1976)
Exodus (1977)
Kaya (1978)
Survival (1979)
Uprising (1980)
Confrontation (1983)

Compilations

African Herbsman (1973)
Rasta Revolution (1974)
Legend (1984)
Rebel Music (1986)
Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On (1995)
21 Winners: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers (1997)
One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers (2001)
Gold (2005)
Africa Unite: The Singles Collection (2005)

Live albums

Live! (1975)
Babylon by Bus (1978)
Talkin' Blues (1991)
Live at the Roxy (2003)
Live Forever: September 23, 1980 • Stanley Theatre • Pittsburgh, PA (2011)
Easy Skanking in Boston '78 (2015)

Remix albums

Chances Are (1981)
Chant Down Babylon (1999)
B Is for Bob (2009)

Box sets

Songs of Freedom (1992)
The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972 (1997–2002)

Singles

Other songs

Performances

Associated acts

Related people

Category

v t e Eric Clapton
Albums discography Singles discography Videography
Studio albums	Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard There's One in Every Crowd No Reason to Cry Slowhand Backless Another Ticket Money and Cigarettes Behind the Sun August Journeyman From the Cradle Pilgrim Reptile Me and Mr. Johnson / Sessions for Robert J Back Home Clapton Old Sock I Still Do Happy Xmas
Live albums	Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert E. C. Was Here Just One Night Time Pieces Vol.II Live in the Seventies 24 Nights Unplugged Crossroads 2: Live in the Seventies One More Car, One More Rider Live in San Diego Crossroads Guitar Festival 2019 The Lady in the Balcony: Lockdown Sessions Nothing but the Blues
Compilations	The History of Eric Clapton Eric Clapton at His Best Clapton Steppin' Out Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton Backtrackin' The Cream of Eric Clapton Crossroads Story The Cream of Clapton Blues Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton Complete Clapton Forever Man
Singles	"After Midnight" / "Easy Now" "Blues Power" / "Bottle of Red Wine" "Let It Rain" "I Shot the Sheriff" / "Give Me Strength" "Willie and the Hand Jive" "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" "Hello Old Friend" "Carnival" "Lay Down Sally" / "Cocaine" "Wonderful Tonight" "Tulsa Time" "Promises" / "Watch Out for Lucy" "Early in the Morning (Live)" "I Can't Stand It" "I've Got a Rock 'n' Roll Heart" "Crosscut Saw" "Forever Man" "It's in the Way That You Use It" "Behind the Mask" "Tearing Us Apart" "Pretending" / "Before You Accuse Me" "Hound Dog" "Bad Love" "Tears in Heaven" / "White Room (Live)" "Layla (Acoustic)" "Down & Out" "Motherless Child" / "Driftin'" "Change the World" "Born in Time" "Circus" "My Father's Eyes" "Pilgrim" "Blue Eyes Blue" "(I) Get Lost" "Come Rain or Come Shine" / "Ten Long Years" "3 O'Clock Blues" "Key to the Highway" "Worried Life Blues" "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" "Every Little Thing" / "No Sympathy"
Soundtracks	Edge of Darkness Homeboy Rush
Concert films	Live 1986 The Cream of Eric Clapton Live in Hyde Park In Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua Sessions for Robert J Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004 Live at Montreux 1986 Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 Planes, Trains and Eric Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall Crossroads Guitar Festival 2019
Collaborations	Riding with the King The Road to Escondido Live from Madison Square Garden Play the Blues: Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale "I Wish It Would Rain Down" "Runaway Train"
Tours	Journeyman World Tour George Harrison–Eric Clapton 1991 Japanese Tour Reptile World Tour 2019 Eric Clapton World Tour
Bands	The Yardbirds John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers The All-Stars Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse Cream Blind Faith Delaney & Bonnie Derek and the Dominos
Related	Blackie Brownie The Fool Marshall Bluesbreaker Signature Stratocaster Crossroads Centre Crossroads Guitar Festival Pattie Boyd George Harrison Ferrari SP12 EC Va Bene Wonderful Today "Clapton is God" On Tour with Eric Clapton Nothing but the Blues Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars

v t e Warren G
Studio albums	Regulate... G Funk Era (1994) Take a Look Over Your Shoulder (1997) I Want It All (1999) The Return of the Regulator (2001) In the Mid-Nite Hour (2005) The G Files (2009)
EPs	Regulate... G Funk Era, Part II (2015)
Collaborative albums	The Hard Way (2004) (with 213)
Singles	"Regulate" "This D.J." "Do You See" "What's Love Got to Do with It" "I Shot the Sheriff" "Smokin' Me Out" "I Want It All" "Game Don't Wait" "Lookin' at You" "My House"
Featured singles	"Indo Smoke" "Prince Igor"
Other songs	"Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)"
Related articles	Discography Production discography 213 G-Funk Entertainment