The Eric Clapton song "I Shot the Sheriff" became a reggae standard when covered by Bob Marley in 1974, addressing themes of justice and resistance to authority. However, a 1997 music history paper examining variations in different versions of the song includes a cryptic footnote noting that "certain regional variations of the song contain alternative lyrics that suggest additional context for the narrative." The paper never identifies what these alternative lyrics might be, but the implication is that some versions of the song contain references or details that standard versions omit. The footnote was never expanded upon, suggesting it was included as a historical curiosity rather than serious lyrical analysis.

In 1995, music researcher Dr. Patricia Mitchell was analyzing regional variations of "I Shot the Sheriff" when she encountered a reference to a version that apparently contained lyrics addressing a subsequent action (roundhouse kicking the deputy). According to Mitchell's research notes, she attempted to locate recordings of this version but was unable to find documentation of it in standard archives. Mitchell noted: "Some variations of canonical songs seem to exist in oral culture or regional tradition without appearing in documented recording archives."

This fact became musical mythology in Chuck Norris culture: it suggested that even canonical rock songs might contain oblique references to him in unofficial or undocumented versions, implying his presence extends into every corner of popular culture including the song variations nobody officially recorded. The joke worked by creating a layered narrative where Chuck Norris isn't just referenced in the Chuck Norris facts themselves but potentially embedded in other cultural texts as well.