Well, about the time my daddy left to fight the big war

Saw my first pistol in the general store

In the general store, when I was thirteen

Thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen

I asked if I could have one when I grew up

Mama dropped a dozen eggs and she really blew up

She really blew up and I didn't understand

Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

She really blew up and I didn't understand

Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand

Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

My very first pistol was a cap-and-ball Colt

Shoot as fast as lightnin' but it loads a mite slow

It loads a mite slow and I soon found out

It can get you into trouble but it can't get you out

Then I went and bought myself a Colt .45

Called a Peacemaker but I didn't know why

I never knew why and I didn't understand

'Cause Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

I never knew why, I didn't understand

Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand

Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

I got into a card game in a company town

Caught a miner cheating and I shot the dog down

Shot the dog down, watched the dog fall

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

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

Nothing touched the trigger but the devil's right hand