- published: 26 Jul 2009
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"I Fought the Law" is a song written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets and became popularized by a cover by the Bobby Fuller Four, which went on to become a top-ten hit for the band in 1966 and was also recorded by The Clash in 1979. The Bobby Fuller Four version of this song was ranked No. 177 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, and the same year was named one of the 500 "Songs that Shaped Rock" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The song was written in 1958 by Sonny Curtis, and recorded in 1959 when he joined the Crickets, taking the place of the late Buddy Holly on guitar. Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison continued their positions on the standup bass and drums, respectively, while Earl Sinks filled the role for vocals. The song was on their 1960 LP, In Style with the Crickets, and the following year appeared as the b-side of their single, "A Sweet Love". The song never received any airplay. Milwaukee's Paul Stefen and the Royal Lancers covered the song in 1962; it provided them with a local hit, but it never made the national charts. In 1964, Sammy Masters recorded his cover of the song. That same year, the song was recorded by Bobby Fuller and his band on his own Exeter label in El Paso, which solidified the band's popularity in the West Texas area with one of his biggest local hits.
A breakin' these rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I wanted 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 it feels so bad
Guess my race is run
She was the best thing, I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
Robbin' people with a six-gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my little baby in good fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
If I left my baby and it feels so bad
I guess my race is run
She was the best thing, I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
If I left my baby and it feels so bad
And I guess my race is run
She was the best thing, I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law, law won
I fought the law, the law won
I fought the law, the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won