The Devil’s Right Hand
About the time that daddy left to fight the great war
I saw my first pistol in a general store
In a general store, when I was thirteen
Probably it was the greatest thing I ever had seen
So l asked if I could have it when I was grown up
Mama lost her temper, yea she really blew up
She really blew up and I didn’t understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil’s right hand
The devil’s right hand, the devil’s right hand
Mama said the pistol is the devil’s right hand
My very first pistol was a cannon ball Colt
Shoot as fast as lightning’ but she loaded right slow
Loaded right slow and soon I found out
It can get you into trouble but it can’t get you out
So then I went and bought myself a Colt 45
Called a peacemaker but I never knew why
Never knew why, I couldn’t understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil’s right hand
The devil’s right hand, the devil’s right hand
Mama said the pistol is the devil’s right hand
The devil’s right hand, the devil’s right hand
Mama said the pistol is the devil’s right hand
I got into a card game in a saloon in town
Caught a man cheating so I shot the dog down
Shot the dog down, I watched the man fall
Never touched his holster, never had a chance at all
They caught me in the morning and they dragged me out of bed
Asked me how I plead, not guilty I said
Not guilty I said, you’ve got the wrong man
Nothing touched the trigger but the devil’s right hand
The devil’s right hand, the devil’s right hand
Mama said the pistol is the devil’s right hand
The devil’s right hand, the devil’s right hand
Mama said the pistol is the devil’s right hand
* Original lyrics written by Steve Earle