About the time that Daddy left to fight the big war
I saw my first pistol in the general store
In the general storewhen 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 eggsshe really blew up
She really blew upand she didn t understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil s right hand

The devil s right handthe 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 slowand soon I found out
It ll 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 whyI didn t understand
Mama says the pistol is the devil s right hand

The devil s right handthe 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 cheatingI shot the dog down
I shot the dog downI watched the man fall
He never touched his holsternever had a chance to draw

The trial was in the morning and they drug me out of bed
Asked me how I pleadednot guilty I said
Not guilty I saidyou ve got the wrong man
Nothing touched the trigger but the devil s right hand

The devil s right handthe devil s right hand
Mama says the pistol is the devil s right hand

The devil s right handthe devil s right hand
Mama says the pistol is the devil s right hand

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