I shod the sheriff, and I put shoes on the deputy,
I shod the sheriff, and I put shoes on the deputy.

In this drowsy Western town,
We're dry and we drink 'em down.
Well, one night over at the livery
Were swillin', sheriff and deputy,
And those two were soon joined by me--
Drank till day.

I shod the sheriff; like me, he was drunk and quite senseless.
I shod his second; he was in a stupor and was defenseless.

The sheriff looked like a horse to me
And ready to go
Riding, but at first that steed
Needed shoes on his hooves, not hose,
Needed shoes on his hooves, not hose--
OK.

I shod the sheriff; like me, he was drunk and quite senseless.
I shod his second; he was in a stupor and was defenseless.

Feed 'em lots of oats and hay,
And to protect their hooves, pound
Nails through the shoes that come down and hit the ground,
Makin' that clip-clop sound,
And the hammer, it did rebound.
Horseplay.

I shod the sheriff; like me, he was drunk and quite senseless,
I shod his second; he was in a stupor and was defenseless.

Eventually came sobriety,
And we, all three, could see:
Their feet and hands were nail-stuck, bleeding, swelled.
They screamed, "Grab those nails and pop 'em out!!"
At the top of their voices, they shout:
"You'll pay!"

I shot the sheriff; if he'd lived he'd be my nemesis.
I shot the sheriff and the deputy in self-defense.