Not many groups had that much talent - Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings. It was called a "supergroup", which quite frankly is damning with faint praise.
But when it came to making loud noises, they excelled. Between 1985 and 1995, they did a lot of great music. Lots of it was covers of other people's songs - a bit odd, really, considering just how much songwriting talent was in the group.
Today's song is a cover of Steve Earle's great song about what happens to a young boy when he first casts his gaze on a pistol. I don't know that I'd go so far as Earle, but at the Blogshoot later today I'm fixin to try out the Devil's Right Hand. Likely I'll think about tryin' his Left Hand (say, something commie, like a Tokarev) too.
Let's get loud.
The Devil's Right Hand (Songwriter: Steve Earle)
About the time that daddy left to fight the big war(Image source)
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 i asked if i could have one some day 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
Shoots as fast as lightin' but it loads a mighty slow
Loads a mighty 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
4 comments:
Actually, all fans of spaghetti westerns know that Trinity is the Right Hand of the Devil, and his brother Bambino is the Left Hand of the Devil.
Cash's solo version off the Unearthed box set is also excellent.
I wore out 2 CD's of this group! Love all of the Highway mens series. Guess I'm gonna have to go to the second hand book/cd store today and look for a new one.
Steve
I like them but i like Steve Earle's
version better on the Copperhead Road
Album and CD.
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