The Devil's Right Hand

About the time, my daddy left to fight the big war
I saw my first pistol in the general store
The general store, when I was 13
Thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen

I asked if I could have one some day when I grew up
Mama dropped a dozen eggs, 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 cap and ball Colt
Shoots like lightnin' but it loads a mite slow
It loads a mite slow, and I soon 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
I never knew why, 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
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 Cumberland town
I caught a miner cheating, and I shot the dog down
I shot the dog down, I watched the man fall
He never touched his holster, never had a chance to draw

The trial was in the morning, and they dragged me out of bed
Asked me how I pleaded, "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
Nothing touched the trigger, but the devil's right hand
The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
Nothing touched the trigger, but the devil's right hand

Mama said, "The pistol is the devil's right hand"