☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the fascination and danger of guns.
- The narrator recalls his childhood, when he first saw a pistol and was warned by his mother about its danger.
- The lyrics describe how the narrator owns and uses different guns over time, but still follows his mother's warnings.
- The story takes a dark turn when the narrator gets involved in a shootout and is wrongly convicted.
- The song lyrics warn against impulsive actions and emphasize that guns are not the solution to problems.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "Devil's Right Hand" by
Johnny Cash are about the fascination and danger of guns. It is about the narrator's experiences with pistols and how his mother warns him about their danger.
The song begins with the narrator's memory of his childhood, when he saw a gun in a store for the first time. He was fascinated by it, but his mother reacted angrily and explained to him that guns were the devil's tool. She warns him about the negative consequences and dangers they can bring.
The lyrics then describe how the narrator owns and uses different pistols over time. He mentions that his first gun loaded slowly but shot quickly. He later buys a Colt 45, which he calls the "Peacemaker". He realizes that he doesn't really understand why his mother warns him about guns, but he still follows her warning.
The story takes a dark turn when the narrator gets involved in a shootout after catching a miner cheating in a card game. He shoots the miner's dog, but is falsely accused. At his trial, the narrator pleads his innocence, but is still convicted. He emphasizes that he did nothing more than carry the gun that his mother called the devil's tool.
The lyrics of "Devil's Right Hand" address the narrator's ambivalent relationship with guns. Although he is fascinated by their power, he also recognizes their danger and the possible negative consequences of their use. The lyrics warn against impulsive action and emphasize the message that guns are not the solution to problems.