The Devil's right hand

1. About the time that daddy left to fight the big war
I saw my first pistol in the general store
In the general store, when i was thirteen
I thought it was the finest thing i ever had seen.

So l asked if i could have one someday when i grew up
Mama dropped a dozen eggs, she really blew up
She really blew up, and she didn't understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand.

[Chorus:]
The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand.

2. Me very first pistol was a cap and ball colt
Shoots as fast as lightnin' but it loads a mite slow
It loads a mite slow, and soon i found out
It'll get you into trouble but it can't get you out.

So about a year later i bought a colt 45
Called a peacemaker but i never knew why
I never knew why, i didn't understand
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand.

3. Got into a card game in a company town
I caught a miner cheating, 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 drug 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.

[Chorus x2]