Devil's Right Hand
Johnny Cash Lyrics

About the time that Daddy left to fight the big war
The singer recalls the time when his father went off to war.

I saw my first pistol in the general store
The singer saw a pistol for the first time at the general store.

In the general store, when I was thirteen
It was at the general store when the singer was thirteen.

Thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen
The artist was fascinated by the pistol, thinking it was the best thing he ever laid his eyes on.

So l asked if I could have one when I grew up
The artist expressed his desire to have a pistol when he grows up.

Mama dropped a dozen eggs, she really blew up
The singer's mother was outraged at the thought of her son owning a pistol.

She really blew up and I didn't understand
The singer did not comprehend the reason behind his mother's reaction.

Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand
The mother believes that possessing a pistol is like having the devil's hand.

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
The 'devil's right hand' is a metaphor for the pistol.

My very first pistol was a cap and ball Colt
The artist's first pistol was a Colt, which used a cap and ball to fire the weapon.

Shoot as fast as lightnin' but it loads a mite slow
The Colt could fire fast, but it took time to reload.

Loads a mite slow and i soon found out
The artist discovered that the pistol takes time to reload.

It can get you into trouble but it can't get you out
The pistol can get you into dangerous situations but cannot save you from them.

So then I went and bought myself a Colt 45
The singer upgraded to a Colt 45.

Called a peacemaker but I never knew why
The Colt 45 was called a 'peacemaker,' but the singer did not understand why.

Never knew why, I didn't understand
The artist continued not to comprehend the meaning behind the pistol's name.

Cause Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand
The mother's warning about pistols being the devil's hand continues to influence the artist's thinking.

Well I get into a card game in a company town
The singer finds himself in a card game in a new town.

Caught a miner cheating I shot the dog down
The singer shot a miner's dog after catching him cheating in a card game.

Shot the dog down, watched the dog fall
The artist saw the dog fall after shooting it.

Never touched his holster, never had a chance to draw
The artist did not have to defend himself, as the miner did not draw his weapon.

The trial was in the morning and they drug me out of bed
The artist is put on trial the next morning.

Asked me how I pleaded, not guilty I said
The singer pleads not guilty to the charges.

You've got the wrong man
The artist maintains his innocence, insisting that they have the wrong person.

Nothing touched the trigger but the devil's right hand
The singer insists that only the pistol was the cause of the incident.