Once upon a time, on my way into town
With my imaginary horse, whirling dirt from the ground
Suddenly, the devil stood in my way.
He was all dressed in black, hardly hiding his tail.
I said, "I've been through hell, already paid my dues,
With a fistful of bullets and my head full of booze."
He looked at my horse and tried to offer a deal
He said, "You shouldn't ride a dream, you should be keepin' it real"
I said, "You shut up, old man, you're not as bad as you think.
Now let me ride into town and maybe I'll buy you a drink.
But if you're looking for some trouble, I'm the guy you could use...
I got a fistful of bullets and my head full of booze."
A few minutes later, he trekked into a saloon,
But there was no one around 'cause it was just before noon.
The devil said, "Damn, I just don't know what to do.
There's no one around to serve a drink or two."
I said, "You bring me some whiskey, fill the hole in my shoes,
Or you got a hatful of bullets. I need a fistful of booze."
(This is one story that's out of control.)
He was quietly impressed, and quite afraid of the slaughter.
So he said, "Maybe you're the right man to marry my daughter."
She appeared in a flash and a thundering force.
I thought, "Well, maybe she can do better than my imaginary horse."
And so, I rocked her hard - she blew away my blues.
Then I shot the devil and got my hatful of booze
With a fistful of bullets and a hatful of booze With a fistful of bullets and my hatful of booze,
You can always chase the devil, and if you win he will lose.