Devil's right hand

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

• Artist:Steve Earle
• Album:Copperhead Road