The Devil's Right Hand

[Verse 1] About the time my 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 [Chorus] The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand [Verse 2] My very first pistol was a cap and ball Colt Shoots like lighting but it loads a-might slow Loads a-might slow and soon I found out It can get you into trouble but it can't get you out [Jennings:] 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 said the pistol is the devil's right hand [Chorus][x2] [Instrumental break.] [Verse 3] I got into a card game in a Cumberland town Caught a miner cheating and I shot the dog down [Nelson:] Shot the dog down, watched the man fall Never touched his holster never had a chance to draw [Kristofferson:] 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 [Chorus] [Outro] Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand