[Intro 1: Patricia Grimes, news clip]

The violence has to stop

My child's death will not be meaningless

[Verse 1]

Rest in peace Sean Bell

Rest in peace 'Dou Diallo

Rest in peace Ossie Green[?]

Rest in peace Chris Grimes

[Verse 2]

Yo, yo

You see the front page

You hear it on the news

They talkin' 'bout a gang

They say they wearin' blue

But, nah, he wasn't crippin'

Somebody gotta listen

His mission is different

{?]

It happened in New Orleans

Same thing in Oakland

See that gun smokin'

Nobody hafta rope him[?]

So I had my burner, but it's permitted

And I only use it, dang, on those deservin' it

I'm cruisin' down the street

The reefer in my hand

Knew he wouldn't understand

Damn, so I ran

I'm worried about a honey

I'm comin' to a dead end

I put my hands up

That's when he drew his weapon

Let off, tried to kill me execution style

Y'all the beast, I'm the prey

Lex Luthor injustice just attacked so we busted ours back {?]

Bang, I let the shots ring

Hear my words

[Chorus]

I shot the sheriff

Yeah, I shot him

But I didn't shoot the deputy

You know the song, you know the song sing along, c'mon

I shot the sheriff

Yeah, I shot him

But I swear it was in self defense

I guess he had it comin'

Hey, yo, I guess he had it comin'

[Verse 2]

It's forty one for Diallo

Fifty for Sean Bell

Courtesy of NY City committee

Bullet sheriffs[?] pulled and they shot him

Ain't nothin' but a wallet[?]

Now that don't make no sense

I can't call it but I hear it down in Oakland

Another gun smokin'

Another innocent body

Another family broken

And I ain't jokin', I'll take you to New Orleans

It's gettin' crazy, yo, what's happenin' this time?

They put slugs in your back, Mr. Chris Grimes

Who pays for this crime?

Really, what's happenin'?

Liars with the power to fire call it an accident

What?!

C'mon, sing it

[Chorus]

I shot the sheriff

Yeah, I shot him

But I didn't shoot the deputy

You know the song, you know the song sing along, come on

I shot the sheriff

Yeah, I shot him

But I swear it was in self defense

I guess he had it comin'

Yeah, yo, I guess he had it comin'

[Verse 3]

Said who protects us from you now

Who protects us from you?

Who protects us from you?

Who protects us from you?