Standard (EADGBE)

'Bout the time my daddy left to fight the big war

 I saw my first pistol in the general store

 In the general store, I was thirteen

 I thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen

Asked if I could have it someday when I grew up

 Mama dropped a dozen eggs and really blew up

 She really blew up, 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.

My very first pistol was a cap and ball colt.

Shoot as fast as lightnin' but she'd load a might slow.

Load a might slow. I soon found out it'll

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

So then I went and bought myself a colt 45.

It was called a peace maker, but i never knew why.

Never knew why, I didn't understand.

Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand.

Chorus

 Well I got into a card game in a company town

Caught a miner cheatin' and I shot the dog down

 I shot the dog down, I watched the man fall

Never touched his holster, never had a chance to draw

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

 They asked me how i pleaded, not guilty I said

 Not guilty I said, you got the wrong man

Nothin touched the trigger but the devils right hand

Chorus