Steve Earle: "The Devil's Right Hand"

“The Devil’s Right Hand”
Steve Earle

About the time my daddy left to fight the big war
I saw my first pistol in a general store
In a general store. I was 13
Thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen
Asked if I could have one someday, when I grew up
Mama dropped a dozen eggs, and she really blew up
She really blew up. 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”

My first pistol was a cap and ball Colt
Shoot as fast as lightnin’, but she loaded a mite slow
She loaded a mite slow. Soon I found out
She could get you into trouble, but she can’t get you out
So then I went and bought myself a Colt 45
Called a Peacemaker, but I never knew why
Well, I never knew why. I didn’t understand
But 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”
The devil’s right hand, the devil’s right hand
Mama says, “The pistol is the devil’s right hand”

[Musical Interlude]

I got into a card game, in a company town
And I caught a miner cheating, and I shot the dog down
I shot the dog down. I watched the man fall
Never touched his holster, never had a chance to draw
My 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
Nothing touched the trigger but the devil’s right hand

Mama says, “The pistol is the devil’s right hand”