Mean As Hell Lyrics - Johnny Cash

The devil in hell we're told was chained a thousand years he there remained 

He neither complain nor did he groan but was determined to start a hell of his own 

Where he could torment the souls of men without being chained in a prison pen 

So he asked the Lord if he had on hand anything left when he made this land 

The Lord said yes there's a plenty of hand but if I left it down by the Rio Grande 

The fact is ol' boy the stuff is so poor 

I don't think you could use it as the hell anymore 

But the devil went down to look at the truck 

And said if he took it as a gift he was stuck 

For after lookin' that over carefully and well he said this place is too dry for hell 

But in order to get it off his hand the Lord promised the devil to water the land 

So trade was closed and deed was given and the Lord went back to his home in heaven 

And the devil said now I got all what's needed to make it good hell and he succeeded 

He began by putting thorns all over the trees 

He mixed up the sand with millions of fleas 

He scattered tarantulas along the road put thorns on cactus and horns on toad 

Lengthened the horns of the Texas steer put an addition to the rabbits ear 

Put a little devil in the bronco steed and poisoned the feet of the centipede 

The rattlesnake bites you the scorpion stings 

The mosquito delights you with his buzzing wings 

The sunburst are there and so the ants 

And if you sit down you'll need have soles on your pants 

The wild boar rooms on a black chaparral it's a hell of a place that he has for hell 

The heat in the summers are hundred and ten too hot for the devil too hot for men 

The red pepper grows upon the banks of the brook 

The Mexican use it in all that he cook 

Just dine it with one of 'em and you're bound to shout 

I've hell on the inside as well as it out 

My hands are calloused July to July I use a Big Dipper to navigate by 

Fight off the wolves to drink from my well so I have to be mean as hell 

A sheep herder came and put up the fence 

I saw him one day but I ain't seen him since 

But if you're needin' mutton we've got mutton to sell 

We're cowpunchers and we're mean as hell 

Neither me nor my pony's got a pedigree but he takes me where I'm wantin' to be 

I'll ride him to death and when he is fell I'll get me another one mean as hell 

I shot me a calf and I cut off her head 

Cause the boys in the bunkhouse are waitin' to be fed 

They rise in chime with the five thirty bell 

And the best one of any of 'em is mean as hell 

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