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
 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 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
 Loads a mite slow and soon I found out
 It can 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
 Never knew why, I didn't understand
 Cause Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

 Well I get into a card game in a company town
 Caught a miner cheating I shot the dog down
 Shot the dog down, watched the man 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