Devil's Right Hand

Steve Earle


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 

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand 
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand 

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 

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand 
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand 

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 

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand 
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand 

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand 
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand



Tags:  body parts heaven and hell three word song titles
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