1. Why did he shoot the sheriff?
2. Who shot the deputy?
3. Why was it put into a song?
(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
I think the third question might be a little self-explanatory. As someone who used emotions to write songs (like many others), I can understand why some of the best and worst times of your life would result in some great music. Using the highs and lows of your life to create something can really make a lasting impression such as Marley's music.
"Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what I don't know
Ev'ry time I plant a seed
He said, 'Kill it before it grows.'
He said, 'Kill them before they grow.'"
Sheriff John Brown was shot as a result of Marley 'planting a seed'. What that seed was, I am not sure. We could jump into the theories of children, or the marijuana that Bob was so fond of. Either way, John Brown was not a fan. He was also stated in the song that Sheriff Brown was "aiming to shoot me down", as the claim of self-defense was mentioned. Suspicions lead me to believe that it was the crackdown of marijuana laws across the USA (who's government was also on the radar for cocaine trafficking throughout Jamaica). It is unlikely that Marley would be singing about children since he led a very fruitful life shown through his eleven children.
"On the 2001 documentary The Life Of Bob Marley, Esther Anderson, who was Marley's girlfriend, claims she helped write this and that it is about birth control." -Songfacts
While there is no visible truth to this story, there are many rumors circulating here.
- Was it an actual altercation?
A valid claim is about an altercation that Bob had in his youth with Sheriff John Brown. An argument broke out which Sheriff Brown pulled his gun, but Marley acted in self defense and shot him instead. His partner on the scene was the deputy, which Marley never claimed to shoot and/or kill.
"This song tells the story of a man who shoots a sheriff who is harassing him, but is wrongly accused of killing the deputy. Marley said that some of the song is true, but would not say what parts." -Songfacts
- Was it made up?
One claim was that Marley made the whole song up. He wanted to sing about police, but felt that the government would not allow such language, so he opted for sheriff.
- Was it named after Robert Marlin?
A similar argument surfaced with regards to an individual named Robert Marlin who was framed for the double murder of two policemen (one a sheriff and the other a deputy). A false accusation landed Marlin in jail for 20+ years before DNA test provided proof that Marlin acted in self defense against law enforcement and was exonerated of all charges. I have yet to find any actual court documents supporting this theory (so anyone with said documents please share).
(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
- Was it about political strife?
During the time of this song, the country was ruled by the Jamaican Labour Party (1962 until 1972) and which was a conservative style party. One of the major players in the JLP at the time was US born Edward Seaga (even though he was born of a Jamaican/Lebanese family).
"As the 1970s commenced, soaring unemployment, rationed food supplies, pervasive political violence and the IMF’s stranglehold on the Jamaican economy due to various structural adjustment policies heavily influenced the keen social consciousness that came to define Bob’s lyrics." -http://www.bobmarley.com/history/
While Seaga did not reach head of political power until later in the 1974, he was heavily involved in numerous things that was indirect with Marley's community. Seaga was heavily involved in the music/cultural development of Jamaica (also responsible for the explosion of Reggae music and the founding of West India Records Limited), as well as development for Tivoli Gardens (Kingston) which had a reputation of large drug trafficking, violence, gangs, and civil unrest in the late twentieth century. Could the sheriff be referring to civil unrest in the area? Could shooting the sheriff be referring to the handling of Seaga and the JLP? Could it be that Marley's love for the marijuana had a problem with the local conservative government such as the JLP? Seems a little far fetched and has some holes in the theory that I am still trying to piece together.
Some of the cultural additions that Seaga made were:
1967 - Research and recording of folk culture
1968 - Urban Development Corporation
1971 - Design of the Cultural Training Centre (Arts, Drama, Music, Painting & Sculpture)
Now if we were to take John Brown and replace it with Jim Brown, we have more to this story. Was "John Brown" referring to drug kingpin Lester Lloyd Coke? Despite Coke co-creating the infamous Jamaican Shower Posse throughout the 1980s, it is possible (from what I am gathering) that Lester Coke was acting on behalf of the Jamaican Labor Party and it's leader Edward Seaga?
"As members of the Shower Posse took firm control of the territory around them, they were able to dictate rules and laws to the residents who lived there. So when politician Edward Seaga needed votes to claim the post of Prime Minister of Jamaica, Coke was in a position to help. Much like Joseph Kennedy Sr. went to the Italian mob to persuade them to give his son the votes of organizations that fell under their control.
With the entire population of Tivoli Gardens, and thus their votes, under his control, Coke had an important ace up his sleeve when it came to dealing with politicians. Thanks to his powerful connections to Prime Minister Edward Seaga and his Jamaican Labor Party Coke could commit his crimes with impunity." -Gorilla Convict
"Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah!
All of a sudden I saw Sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot, I shot him down
And I say, if I am guilty I will pay."
Coke was known at the time as a political enforcer and bodyguard for the JLP. While Seaga and the JLP were responsible for cultural promotion in the country, it was counter productive to be promoting drug use such as marijuana (especially with heavy US influence for both music and drug enforcement). Could Marley be planting the seed and Seaga/JLP/Coke be the ones trying to stop? Could Coke be the sheriff and Seaga/JLP be the deputy? Could this song be the "shot" that was taken and turned into a fictitious story to avoid prosecution?
"Seaga’s opponent Michael Manley had begun to adopt “socialist” stances and began openly criticizing American foreign policies and meeting with U.S. enemy, Fidel Castro, in the 1970s. Given the cold war the US was having with Russia, the CIA did not want Jamaica to be friendly with communists.
According to Gary Webb’s book,”The Dark Alliance,” Norman Descoteaux, the CIA station chief in Jamaica began a destabilization program of the Manley government in late 70s. Part of that plan was assassinations, money for the Jamaican Labour Party, labor unrest, bribery and shipping weapons to Manley’s opponents, like Lester “Jim Brown” Coke." -Newsone
It is also speculated that Coke was burned alive in his cell awaiting extradition to the US for fear of any secrets being leaked such as any confidential CIA information, JLP politics, and possibly any attempt on Marley's life/safety.
"Lester Coke would later be burned to death in a Jamaican jail cell, while awaiting extradition the the United States. Many people have claimed that he was killed so he wouldn’t reveal his secrets dealing with the CIA, JLP and criminal activity." -Global Research
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I think I am asking more question than I am getting answers here. I'm still trying to figure out how the deputy got involved resulting in being shot. Anyone out there got better answers than me (or at least can fill in some blanks)?
Wow this is very in depth. This is all an interesting story, something I had thought for years when listening to the lyrics. Always love hearing back stories of songs and how did they come up with the lyrics.
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