I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man Who never shot a gun or broke a law He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud it set me free Well I turned into an outlaw on the run I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident Taking lives and sleeping in the sun I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man Who never shot a gun or broke a law He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud it set me free Well I turned into an outlaw on the run I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident Taking lives and sleeping in the sun I started on the trail for pay, drove a coach on Santa Fe I joined the civil war a lonesome spy The army came and summoned me, to fight another war you see Felt I was born to sit and watch 'em die I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man Who never shot a gun or broke a law He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud it set me free
Well I turned into an outlaw on the run I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident Taking lives and sleeping in the sun The marshal of my town was k**ed; I took his badge and burned his will I shot my deputy on accident Well it never seemed to bother me, taking lives so guilty free Like gamblin' just for booze and payin' rent I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I was born in Illinois my daddy was a man Who never shot a gun or broke a law He fought for freedom with his mouth, helped slaves escape the South He could not understand where I went wrong; he could not understand where I went wrong The Devil sang his song to me; heard it loud it set me free Well I turned into an outlaw on the run I left my home just as a kid, I got caught up in an incident Taking lives and sleeping in the sun I lost all of the coin I made, from folding hands in poker games When Jack McCall he snuck up from behind He pulled his gun up to my head, took aim, the lights went red As two black aces fell down by my side I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand I am the devil with a dead man's hand