'Bout the time that Daddy left to fight the big war
I saw my first pistol in the general store
The general store, when I was thirteen
Thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen

I asked if I could have one some day when I grew up
Mama dropped a dozen eggs, she really blew up
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 says the pistol is the devil's right hand

My very first pistol was a cap and ball Colt
Shoots like lightnin' but it loads a mite slow
It loads a mite slow, and soon I found out
Gets 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 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
The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand

I 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
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

Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand