☝️ Key Points
- The song tells the story of a boy who is warned by his mother that a gun belongs to the devil.
- The boy ignores the warning and acquires his first gun.
- He quickly realizes that a gun can bring trouble but cannot help him get out of difficulties.
- The boy gets involved in a conflict and shoots a man who has no chance to draw his weapon.
- The song warns about the dangers of violence and emphasizes the responsibility we have when we own or use a gun.
Interpretation
"The Devil's Right Hand" is a song by
Johnny Cash that tells the story of a boy warned by his mother that a gun is the devil's hand. The song is about the boy's fascination with guns and the consequences they can bring.
The text begins with the boy seeing a gun in a store for the first time and wishing to own one when he grows up. But his mother reacts angrily and explains to him that a gun belongs to the devil. She warns him that guns are dangerous and can lead to violence.
However, the boy ignores his mother's warning and eventually acquires his first gun, a cap-and-ball Colt. He quickly realizes that while the gun can shoot quickly, it also needs to be reloaded slowly. He learns that a gun can bring trouble but cannot help him get out of it.
When the boy participates in a card game in a town, he catches a miner cheating and shoots his dog. The man has no chance to draw his gun and the boy is arrested. In court, he pleads his innocence, but the evidence is against him. He is convicted and realizes that the gun he owns has gotten him into trouble.
The song "The Devil's Right Hand" tells the story of a boy blinded by the fascination for guns and who must face the consequences of his actions. It is a warning about the dangers of violence and a reminder that guns are not the solution to problems. The song emphasizes the responsibility we have when we hold a gun in our hands and reminds us that violence is never the right answer."