I Shot the Sheriff

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Bob Marley and released in 1973 by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Bob Marley and the Wailers version.
The narrator claims to have acted in self-defence when the sheriff tried to shoot him. 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."
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.
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's being very opposed to her use of birth control pills; Marley supposedly substituted the word "doctor" with sheriff.
Eric Clapton version.
Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his 1974 album "461 Ocean Boulevard". His performance of the song adds a soft rock to the reggae sound. "Billboard" described this version as being "a catchy goof of a winner" despite not containing a guitar solo. Faring better in the charts, it peaked at number one on the "Billboard" Hot 100. In 2003, Clapton's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Warren G version.
"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.
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.