I Shot the Sheriff#Warren G version
{{Short description|Bob Marley & The Wailers song}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Shot the Sheriff
| cover = I Shot the Sheriff by Bob Marley and the Wailers German vinyl.jpg
| alt =
| caption = German vinyl release
| type = single
| artist = Bob Marley and the Wailers
| album = Burnin'
| released = {{start date|1973|2|12|df=y}}{{cite web |title=Bob Marley & the Wailers – I Shot the Sheriff |website= Australian-charts.com |access-date= 7 December 2020 |url= https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bob+Marley+%26+The+Wailers&titel=I+Shot+The+Sheriff&cat=s}}
| recorded =
| studio = Harry J. (Kingston, Jamaica)
| venue =
| genre = Reggae
| length = 4:41
| label =
| writer = Bob Marley
| producer =
- Chris Blackwell
- The Wailers
| prev_title = Keep On Moving
| prev_year = 1972
| next_title = Concrete Jungle
| next_year = 1973
| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|oe2hdbft5-U|"I Shot the Sheriff" by Bob Marley and the Wailers}}}}
{{External music video|header=Live video|{{YouTube|zGO8HN1QQdI|"I Shot the Sheriff" (1977 live) by Bob Marley and the Wailers}}}}
}}
"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley and released in 1973 with his band the Wailers.
In 2012, New York based reggae band Island Head did an instrumental version on their debut album, “Punky Reggae Party”. This version features saxophonist Timmy Cappello who is known for playing with Tina Turner for 14 years. Cappello is also known for his role in the movie, “The Lost Boys”. It was produced by Island Head drummer Billy Messinetti. Also featured on this track are reggae guitar legends Mikey Chung and Andy Bassford and keyboard player David Frank of The System.
Bob Marley and the Wailers version
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."{{cite web|title= I Shot the Sheriff |publisher= Island Trading Inc. |url= http://www.bobmarley.com/songs/songs.cgi?sheriff |archive-date= 29 January 1998 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/19980129200745/http://www.bobmarley.com/songs/songs.cgi?sheriff}}
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.{{cite web|first1= Mark |last1= Hamm |first2= Jeff |last2= Ferrell |title= Rap, cops, and crime: clarifying the 'cop killer' controversy |publisher= Institute for Jewish Policy Research |url= http://www.axt.org.uk/HateMusic/Rappin.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 6 April 2004 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040406031225/http://www.axt.org.uk/HateMusic/Rappin.htm}}
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.{{cite news|first= J.J. |last= Colagrande |title= Bob Marley's Ex-Girlfriend Brings Her Own Marley Documentary to Miami |newspaper= Miami New Times |date= 19 April 2012 |access-date= 15 November 2015 |url= http://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/bob-marleys-ex-girlfriend-brings-her-own-marley-documentary-to-miami-6510430}}
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Bob Marley And The Wailers|title=I Shot the Sheriff|award=Platinum|relyear=1973|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=6 April 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Bob Marley & The Wailers|title=I Shot the Sheriff|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=17316-1030-1|access-date=18 June 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Eric Clapton version
{{Infobox song
| name = I Shot the Sheriff
| cover = I Shot the Sheriff by Eric Clapton UK vinyl 1974.jpg
| alt =
| caption = A-side of the original 1974 UK vinyl release
| type = single
| artist = Eric Clapton
| album = 461 Ocean Boulevard
| B-side = Give Me Strength
| released = 1974
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length =
- 4:26 (album version)
- 3:30 (single version)
| label = RSO
| writer = Bob Marley
| producer = Tom Dowd
| prev_title = Let It Rain
| prev_year = 1972
| next_title = Willie and the Hand Jive
| next_year = 1974
| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|L0xLLPJ0bOw|"I Shot the Sheriff" (album version) by Eric Clapton}}}}
{{External music video|header=no|{{YouTube|9ldhCZIC5XE|"I Shot the Sheriff" (full-length version) by Eric Clapton}}}}
{{External music video|header=Live video|{{YouTube|APWhx97QvxE|"I Shot the Sheriff" (2010 live) by Eric Clapton}}}}
}}
Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard. His performance of the song adds soft rock{{cite book|first= Chris |last= Smith |year= 2006 |title= The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History: From Arenas to the Underground, 1974–1980 |publisher= Greenwood Press |page= 102 |isbn= 0-313-32937-0}} to the reggae sound.{{cite book|editor-first1= Nathan |editor-last1= Brackett |editor-first2= Christian |editor-last2= Hoard |year= 2004 |title= The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |edition= 4th |publisher= Fireside |page= [https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea0000unse/page/165/mode/1up?q=sheriff 165] |isbn= 0-394-72107-1}} Billboard described this version as being "a catchy goof of a winner" despite not containing a guitar solo.{{cite magazine|title= Billboard's Top Single Picks |magazine= Billboard |page= 78 |date= 29 June 1974 |access-date= 22 July 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1974/Billboard%201974-06-29.pdf}} Cash Box called it a "smooth bluesy rocker with lots of guitar, keyboards and strong background harmonies."{{cite magazine|title= Singles Reviews > Picks of the Week |magazine= Cash Box |volume= XXXVI |issue= 7 |page= 18 |date= 29 June 1974 |access-date= 11 December 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1974/CB-1974-06-29.pdf}} Record World said that Clapton is "firing straight from the hip, both vocally and riff-wise."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=June 29, 1974|accessdate=2023-03-16|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/74/RW-1974-06-29.pdf}} 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.{{cite web |title= GRAMMY Hall Of Fame – i |publisher= Grammy Hall of Fame Award |access-date= 21 December 2012 |url= http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#i |archive-date= 19 February 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110219001619/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#i |url-status= dead }}
=Charts=
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1982) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|23|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=4 July 2013}} |
| {{single chart|UK|64|date=19820606|access-date=4 July 2013}} |
==Year-end charts==
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Eric Clapton|title=I Shot the Sheriff|relyear=1974|certyear=1974|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}
Warren G version
{{Infobox song
| name = I Shot the Sheriff
| cover = I Shot the Sheriff WG.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Warren G
| album = Take a Look Over Your Shoulder
| released = {{start date|1997|2|3|df=y}}{{cite magazine|first= Shawnee |last= Smith |title= Def Jam Shoots Straight for Int'l Market for Warren G Set |magazine= Billboard |date= 1 February 1997 |volume= 109 |issue= 5 |pages= 21, 28 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-02-01.pdf}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 4:10
| label = Def Jam
| writer =
- Bob Marley
- Warren Griffin
| producer = Warren G
| chronology = Warren G
| prev_title = What's Love Got to Do with It
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Smokin' Me Out
| next_year = 1997
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|XLOFgatKKrE|"I Shot the Sheriff"}}}}
}}
"I Shot the Sheriff" served as the lead single from American rapper 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.
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|date=July 2018}}
=Charts=
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1997) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|8|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Austria|18|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|16|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia|31|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|title= Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 14 |issue= 10 |page= 20 |date= 8 March 1997 |access-date= 26 May 2020 |url= https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-03-08.pdf}}
|align="center"|11 |
| {{single chart|Finland|6|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|France|30|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|27|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|songid=3386|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|11|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=4 July 2013}} |
| Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine|title= Hits of the World |magazine= Billboard |volume= 109 |issue= 14 |page= 48 |date= 5 April 1997 |access-date= 4 June 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-04-05.pdf}}
|align="center"|11 |
| Italy Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-03-15.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=Music & Media|volume=14|issue=11|page=23|date=15 March 1997}}
|align="center"|2 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/1997/week-11|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 11, 1997|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=April 1, 2023}}
|align="center"|5 |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|63|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014|refname="nz"}} |
| {{single chart|Norway|19|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|9|date=19970222|access-date=26 May 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|11|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|12|artist=Warren G|song=I Shot the Sheriff|access-date=7 January 2014}} |
| {{single chart|UK|2|date=19970222|artist=Warren G|access-date=4 July 2013|refname="uk"}} |
| {{single chart|UKdance|8|date=19970222|access-date=26 May 2020}} |
| {{single chart|UKrandb|1|date=19970222|access-date=30 March 2016}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardhot100|20|artist=Warren G|access-date=April 1, 2023}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboarddancesales|26|artist=Warren G|access-date=April 1, 2023}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|16|artist=Warren G|access-date=April 1, 2023}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardrapsongs|5|artist=Warren G|access-date=April 1, 2023}} |
==Year-end charts==
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Warren G|title=I Shot the Sheriff|award=Gold|certyear=1997}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Warren G|title=I Shot the Sheriff|award=Gold|id=1997-06-20|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=1997}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Warren G|title=I Shot the Sheriff|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|salesamount=600,000|salesref={{cite magazine|title= Best-Selling Records of 1997 |magazine= Billboard |date= 31 January 1998 |volume= 110 |issue= 5 |page= 76 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22warren+g%22&pg=PA76}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bob Marley}}
{{Eric Clapton singles}}
{{Warren G}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs about police officers
Category:Songs about police brutality
Category:Criticism of police brutality
Category:Def Jam Recordings singles
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Island Records singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Tom Dowd