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I Fought the Law: A Rebel Standard

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Who's Fought the Law?

In 1959, Sonny Curtis and The Crickets recorded I Fought the Law. No one took much notice until The Bobby Fuller Four re-recorded the song in 1965, changing Sonny's zip gun to a six gun but otherwise remaining faithful to the sound of the original. Perhaps it was the era, with James Dean on the big screen and rebellion taking root in the hearts of many young people, and perhaps it was just that Bobby Fuller's song was done so well, but it became an enormous hit. Unfortunately, Mr. Fuller died just short of the song's peak at #4 on the Billboard music charts.

Thirteen years later, The Clash recorded what is now the best-known version of I Fought the Law, as a part of the punk explosion in the late 1970s. The song again became an anthem for rebels, especially those who became acquainted with their local law enforcement. Shortly thereafter, The Dead Kennedys recorded their own version, wherein "I fought the law and I won," inspired by the notorious Twinkie defense.

I Fought the Law has been the lament of juvenile delinquents and small-time hoods for fifty years. Artists who want to sound like bad boys (or girls) often record their own versions of it, including Green Day and Mike Ness of Social Distortion. Find various versions of the song below, including music videos for them, as well as the lyrics and guitar tabs for it. If I've skipped your favorite version, please let me know!

Start with the Original Hit from The Bobby Fuller Four

Remember how I Fought the Law Used to Sound

I Fought The Law (LP Version)

I Fought The Law (LP Version)

Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

This twangy, jangly hit gave rebels without causes all over the world a theme song.

I Fought the Law Lyrics

Plus Listen to Fifteen Full Versions for Free

The lyrics below are for the original 60s version of the song. If you like, you can click over to The Not-Pop Jukebox and listen to fifteen full covers of I Fought the Law, some more and some a lot less faithful to the first. That list includes folks like Hank Williams, Jr. and The Grateful Dead as well as The Clash, The Crickets, The Ventures, and Johnny Cash.

A-breakin' rocks in the hot sun
(I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won)
I needed money 'cause I had none
(I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won)

I left my baby and I feel so bad
I guess my race is run
Well, she's the best girl I've ever had
(I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won)

(Instrumental Break)

Robbin' people with a six-gun
(I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won)
I miss my baby and the good fun
(I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won)

I left my baby and I feel so bad
I guess my race is run
But, she's the best girl that I ever had
(I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won)

I Fought the Law Music Videos

Remember, the Crickets Did It First...

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And Now for the Covers of I Fought the Law

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I Fought the Law Guitar Tabs

INTRO: G7

I Fought The Law Riff#1
G-C-D-G
E-3---3-3--3---3-3---3--3-3--5--5-5--3---3-3--3---3-3-|
B-3---3-3--3---3-3---5—-5-5--7--7-7--3---3-3--3---3-3-|
G-4---4-4--4---4-4---5--5-5--7--7-7--4---4-4--4---4-4-|
D-5-—-5-5--5---5-5---5--5-5--7--7-7--5-—-5-5--5---5-5-|
A-----------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------|

A-G-D-G
E-5--3--2--3--|
B-5--3--3--3--|
G-6--4--2--4--|
D-7--5-----5--|
A-------------|
E-------------|

G C G
Breaking rocks in the hot sun,
G C G
I fought the law and the law won
G D7 G Riff#1
I fought the law and the law won
G C G
I needed money cause I had None,
G C G
I fought the law and the law won
G D7 G Riff#1
I fought the law and the law won

Chorus:
C G
I miss my baby and I feel so sad I guess my race is run,
C
Well she's the best girl that I ever had
G C G
I fought the law and the law won
G D7 G Riff#1
I fought the law and the law won

INSTRUMENTAL: C-C-C-C-G-C-G-C-G-D X2
G C G
Robbing people with a six gun
G C G
I fought the law and the law won
G D7 G Riff#1
I fought the law and the law won
G C G
I miss my baby and the good fun,
G C G
I fought the law and the law won
G D7 G Riff#1
I fought the law and the law won

REPEAT CHORUS

Guitar Solo
C-G
E-3--3-3--8---8--8----12--12-12--8---8--8---7--7--7--|
B-5--5-5--8---8--8----13--13-13--8---8--8---8--8--8--|
G-5--5-5--9---9--9----12--12-12--9---9--9---7--7--7--|
D-5--5-5--10--10-10---14--14-14--10--10-10--9--9--9--|
A-3--3-3--10--10-10---15--15-15--10--10-10--10-10-10-|
E-x--x-x--8---8--8----x---x--x---8---8--8---x--x--x--|

Triplets

C G C|--|--| G|--|--| D|--|--|
E-8---8--8---7—--8--8--8---7--7--7---5--5--5--|
B-8---8--8---8—--8--8--8---8--8--8---7--7--7--|
G-9---9--9---7---9--9--9---7--7--7---7--7--7--|
D-10--10-10--9---10-10-10--9--9--9---7--7--7--|
A-10--10-10--10--10-10-10--x--x--x---5--5--5--|
E-8---8--8---x---x--x--x---x--x--x---x--x--x--|

C-G
E-3--3-3--8---8--8----12--12-12--8---8--8---7--7--7--7-7-7-|
B-5--5-5--8---8--8----13--13-13--8---8--8---8--8--8--8-8-8-|
G-5--5-5--9---9--9----12--12-12--9---9--9---7--7--7--7-7-7-|
D-5--5-5--10--10-10---14--14-14--10--10-10--9--9--9--9-9-9-|
A-3--3-3--10--10-10---15--15-15--10--10-10--10-10-10-101010|
E-x--x-x--8---8--8----x---x--x---8---8--8---x--x--x-x-x-x-x|

C-G-G-A-G-D-G
E---8---8--8---7----3--3-3—3--3-3--5--3--2--3--|
B---8---8--8---8----3--3-3-3--3-3--5--3--3--3--|
G---9---9--9---7----4--4-4-4--4-4--6--4--2--4--|
D-- 10--10-10--9----5--5-5-5--5-5--7--5--x--5--|
A---10--10-10--10------------------------------|
E---8---8--8---x-------------------------------|

Who Else Wrote About I Fought the Law?

These Entrepreneurs Fought the Law. . . And Won.
Your company is your baby; you want to get legal advice from someone who understands the laws related to it." This article was originally published in the May 2012 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: I Fought the Law... And Won.
How Wes Anderson Soundtracks His Movies
It's from the mid '60s, and that group was most famous for the iconic song "I Fought the Law and the Law Won." How did you decide to use this record at the end of the movie? POSTER: Well, this is one of those sort of special scenarios.
Belly Up to the Esso Club and Accidently Irish Lads
One of the mash ups Grassie said the band is known for is an amped up, Clash-inspired version of "Danny Boy" that runs into "I Fought the Law." Of course, no band with "Irish" in the name could play a show without some old Irish tunes.
Scanner Reports 5-25-12
I guess he never heard that song, "I fought the Law and the Law Won." CSI Call on West Padre for the 415 Domestic. 370 Investigation parking lot 11 500 Anacapa I think that is urinating in public. I might have the code off a little.
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Which Version of I Fought the Law Do You Like Best?

Which cover is the worst?

  • eddyfan Apr 24, 2010 @ 2:21 pm | delete
    Duane Eddy. nuff sed
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