Ryan Horne started his music career back in 2001 with his first full-length… Read Full Bio ↴Ryan Horne started his music career back in 2001 with his first full-length independent album, "Second Door on the Right," produced and engineered by Dave Moody and Moody Multimedia in Charlotte, NC. From there he took his studies to Middle Tennessee State University where he graduatde in May 2005 with a Recording Industry Degree with an emphasis on production and engineering. Working in studios at MTSU and taking his artistry to a whole new level, Ryan produced and engineered his 2nd release, "Sittin With the Maker." Taking his music beyond the call of most singer-songwriters, Ryan, at the ripe old age of 24, has just released his 3rd full-length album, "Lost Highway," which he produced and co-engineered with Gary Fly of Stankonia Studios in Atlanta. Not only did Gary influence Ryan's music due to his excessive Rap recordings with such rappers as Lil' Jon (Look at Lil' Jon's latest release "Crunk Juice" and you will see Gary Fly's name) and so on, he gave Ryan help to assist Ryan in a new and exciting sound. From extensive touring and constant hard work, Ryan hopes to share his passion with whomever will listen.

Deadman's Hand
Ryan Horne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man
Who never shot a gun or broke a law
He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South
He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong
The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud it set me free
Well I turned into an outlaw on the run
I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident
Taking lives and sleeping in the sun

I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand

I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man
Who never shot a gun or broke a law
He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South
He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong
The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud it set me free
Well I turned into an outlaw on the run
I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident
Taking lives and sleeping in the sun

I started on the trail for pay, drove a coach on Santa Fe
I joined the civil war a lonesome spy
The army came and summoned me, to fight another war you see
Felt I was born to sit and watch 'em die

I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand

I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man
Who never shot a gun or broke a law
He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South
He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong
The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud it set me free
Well I turned into an outlaw on the run
I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident
Taking lives and sleeping in the sun

The marshal of my town was killed; I took his badge and burned his will
I shot my deputy on accident
Well it never seemed to bother me, taking lives so guilty free
Like gamblin' just for booze and payin' rent

I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand

I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man
Who never shot a gun or broke a law
He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South
He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong
The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud it set me free
Well I turned into an outlaw on the run
I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident
Taking lives and sleeping in the sun

I lost all of the coin I made, from folding hands in poker games
When Jack McCall he snuck up from behind
He pulled his gun up to my head, took aim, the lights went red
As two black aces fell down by my side

I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand

I am the devil with a dead man's hand
I am the devil with a dead man's hand

Overall Meaning

Ryan Horne's song "Deadman's Hand" is a contemplation on the life of a man who is perceived as a devilish outlaw, brought up in a family with a strong sense of morality and justice. The singer tries to justify his life choices, telling the story of his path from being a law-abiding child to becoming a notorious gambler, coach driver, and spy during the civil war. The singer accepts his fate as a devil who is on the run, haunted by his deeds and his uncanny ability to take life without remorse.

The song delves into the moral complexities of life choices and how our circumstances mould and shape us, as we navigate our surroundings. The singer's father fought for justice with his words and helped slaves escape, while the singer's approach to justice involves taking lives and making money. The Devil, personified as a seductive singer, tempts the singer to do things that go against his moral compass, and hearing his song sets him free. Overall, the song attempts to question what defines good and evil and how our choices and circumstances shape us and push us down certain paths in life.

Line by Line Meaning

I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man Who never shot a gun or broke a law He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South
Although my father was a peaceful man who never resorted to violence, he still fought for freedom in his own way, using his words to help slaves escape the oppression of the South.

He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud, it set me free
Despite my father's good intentions, I was drawn to a life of crime and violence. The devil seduced me with its song, giving me a sense of freedom that I couldn't resist.

Well I turned into an outlaw on the run I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident Taking lives and sleeping in the sun
At a young age, I became an outlaw, running from the law and taking lives. I lived recklessly, sleeping under the sun and enjoying the thrill of the moment.

I started on the trail for pay, drove a coach on Santa Fe I joined the civil war a lonesome spy The army came and summoned me, to fight another war you see Felt I was born to sit and watch 'em die
I pursued money by driving a coach on Santa Fe and even served as a spy during the Civil War. However, I found myself summoned to fight in another war, which made me feel like I was meant to watch people die.

The marshal of my town was killed; I took his badge and burned his will I shot my deputy on accident Well it never seemed to bother me, taking lives so guilty free Like gamblin' just for booze and payin' rent
When the marshal of my town was killed, I took his badge and burned his will, and accidentally shot my deputy. Somehow, taking lives never seemed to bother me and felt like gambling, just a necessary means to survive.

I lost all of the coin I made, from folding hands in poker games When Jack McCall he snuck up from behind He pulled his gun up to my head, took aim, the lights went red As two black aces fell down by my side
Despite my criminal lifestyle, I couldn't keep the money I made from gambling, and ended up losing it all. In the end, a man named Jack McCall approached me from behind and shot me, causing my final moments to resemble a losing hand in poker.

I am the devil with a dead man's hand
In death, I became the embodiment of evil, symbolized by the dead man's hand in poker, a pair of aces and eights.

Contributed by Taylor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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