Today's music: When Clapton topped the charts with a Marley song
Musician Eric Clapton performs at The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 2010 supported by Novae at the Royal Albert Hall on Nov. 17, 2010 in London.
Chris Jackson / Getty Images 2010
Today's Morning Edition music features "I Shot the Sheriff" by Eric Clapton, which was the No. 1 song on the charts 40 years ago today. It was the first song by Clapton to make it to No. 1.
The tune was written and released a year earlier by Bob Marley. Marley said, "I wanted to say I shot the police, but the government would have made a fuss, so I said I shot the sheriff instead, but it's the same idea: justice."
Here's a video clip of Clapton performing the song in 2010.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.