The devil’s right hand (1983)   (video)

D ~ ~

D

1. 'Bout the time my daddy left to fight the big war,

D A

I saw my first pistol in the general store,

A

in the general store, I was thirteen,

A D

I thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen.

D

Asked if I could have it someday when I grew up,

A

mama dropped a dozen eggs and really blew up.

A

She really blew up, I didn't understand,

A D

Mama said, “The pistol is the devil's right hand!”

G D G D

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand,

A D

Mama said, “The pistol is the devil's right hand !”

+ D ~ ~

D

3. My very first pistol was a cap and ball colt,

D A

shoot as fast as lightnin' but she'd load a might slow,

A

load a might slow, I soon found out,

A D

it'll get you into trouble, but it can't get you out.

G D

So then I went and bought myself a colt 45.,

G A

it was called a peace maker, but I never knew why.

A

Never knew why, I didn't understand,

A D

Mama says, “The pistol is the devil's right hand !”

+ CHORUS (2x) + D - A - A7 - D

E

3. Well, I got into a card game in a company town,

E B7

caught a miner cheatin' and I shot the dog down.

B7

I shot the dog down, I watched the man fall,

B7 E

never touched his holster, never had a chance to draw.

E

The trial was in the morning and they drug me outta bed,

E B7

they asked me how I pleaded, “Not guilty.” I said.

B7

“Not guilty,” I said, “you got the wrong man.

B7 E

Nothin’ touched the trigger but the devil’s right hand.”

A E A E

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand,

B7 E

Mama said, “The pistol is the devil's right hand !”

A E A E

+ The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand,

B7 E

nothin touched the trigger but the devil’s right hand.

B7 E

+ A - E + Mama said, “The pistol is the devil's right hand !”

(orig. = capo 2nd) (Steve Earle)