# Needed: Songs with Gambling References
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 4, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049 "2005-01-04T16:46:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/1 "2005-01-04T16:46:18Z")
A co-worker is about to give up the day job for a life of Internet gambling. We’re getting him some sort of farewell present, and the idea crossed my mind to put a CD together of songs with gambling references in them.
Now all I need are some good song recommendations that fit. And that’s where you guys come in. So far, the only ones that have come to mind are Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” (what a surprise, huh?), Bob Seger’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” (ditto), and Bonnie Raitt’s “That Song About the Midway.”
Since I’m (mostly) a law-abiding guy, it would also really help if people can point to places I can download the songs from, LEGALLY. (And without paying for an album to get one song; I’m working within a budget.) But if you can’t, don’t let that stop you from recommending songs. Just don’t point me to sources of illegal free downloads.
For instance, I can get “The Gambler” and “That Song About the Midway” from [Walmart.com](http://Walmart.com) at 88¢ a hit. OTOH, I can’t seem to find a source for “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” but if you do, please chime in.
I know you’re gonna come through for me, so thanks in advance!
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/2 "2005-01-04T16:50:48Z")
Let me add: comments on either the morality or the viability of his new lifestyle are unnecessary. Besides, he’s the one doing this, not me, and he won’t see your comments.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/3 "2005-01-04T16:50:48Z")
“Luck, Be A Lady” from "Guys and Dolls’ is another obvious one.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/4 "2005-01-04T16:53:49Z")
Elvis’ _Viva Las Vegas_, and likely any song with “Las Vegas” in the title meets the bill.
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/5 "2005-01-04T16:54:59Z")
[“White City”](http://www.pogues.com/Releases/Lyrics/LPs/PeaceAndLove/WhiteCity.html) - The Pogues
A loving tribute to a demolished dog track.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/6 "2005-01-04T16:59:04Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#):
>
> “Luck, Be A Lady” from "Guys and Dolls’ is another obvious one.
Jeez, how did I not think of _Guys and Dolls_? I’ve even got the soundtrack CD in my collection! :smack:
Not only “Luck Be a Lady” but also “The Oldest Established” would fit in well. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/7 "2005-01-04T17:01:14Z")
Every song in _Turn of a Friendly Card_ by The Alan Parsons Project
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/8 "2005-01-04T17:02:32Z")
[“Do It Again”](http://www.andymetzger.com/album/cantbuy.htm#1) - Steely Dan
Features this final verse:
\*Now you swear and kick and beg us
That you’re not a gamblin’ man
Then you find you’re back in Vegas
With a handle in your hand
Your black cards can make you money
So you hide them when you’re able
In the land of milk and honey
You must put them on the table \*
---
### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/9 "2005-01-04T17:03:46Z")
[Tex Ritter’s “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke!”](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/unknown-smoke-smoke-smoke-that-cigarette-lyrics.html)
> [@](#):
>
> In a game of chance the other night
> Old Dame Fortune was a-doin’ me right,
> The Kings and Queens just kept on comin’ around–
> I played ‘em hard and bet ‘em high,
> But my bluff didn’t work on a certain guy,
> He kept on raisin’ and layin’ the money down
> He’d raise me and I’d raise him,
> I sweated blood gotta sink or swim,
> He finally called and didn’t raise the bet–
> I said “Aces full, pal,–how 'bout you?”
> He said “I’ll tell you in a minute or two,
> Right now I’ve just got to have a cigarette.”
Commander Cody’s version adds
> [@](#):
>
> Life ain’t nothin’ but a poker game
> No two hands are quite the same
> And I never saw a winner that didn’t bet.
> So if any of you fools are tryin’ to quit
> I ain’t gonna criticize you a bit
> I’d just like one of them \*Jamaican \* cigarettes.
“The House of the Rising Sun”:
> [@](#):
>
> My husband was a gamblin’ man
> Down in New Orleans
>
> Now the only thing a gambler needs
> Is a suitcase and trunk
> And the only time he’s satisfied
> Is when he’s on a drunk.
---
### Author:  [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/10 "2005-01-04T17:09:02Z")
[Check out the \*\*\*Maverick \* \*\* soundtrack:](http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Maverick:1921155419:upc=075678259524:page=tracks;_ylt=Am1MKfS6EJFQaCrNLyvjp0cJGbgF;_ylu=X3oDMTBsbjZyb2dqBF9zAzk1OTUxMTEzBHNlYwNiZ3NpYg--)
Especially \*A Good Run Of Bad Luck \* - Clint Black and \*Ride Gambler Ride \* - Randy Newman
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/11 "2005-01-04T17:14:34Z")
[“A Picture from Life’s Other Side”](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/SongUnid/1ED7C95A75F9FD894825697B0034B95B) - Hank Williams (Sr.) (under his “Luke the Drifter” alias)
Very depressing song. Contains this verse:
_The first scene is that of a gambler,
Who had lost all his money at play,
And he draws his dead mothers ring from his finger,
That she wore long ago on her wedding day,
It’s his last earthly treasure, but he stakes it,
And he bows his head that his shame that he might hide,
But when they lifted his head,
They found he was dead,
That’s just a picture from lifes other side._
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### Author:  [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/12 "2005-01-04T17:22:30Z")
“Roll the Dice” by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel.
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### Author:  [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/13 "2005-01-04T17:28:06Z")
There’s a fun little tune on \*\*Emerson,Lake & Palmer’s \*\* “_Love Beach_” CD called “ **The Gambler** ”.
It has all the references you’d expect and more.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/14 "2005-01-04T17:35:29Z")
> [@VunderBob](#):
>
> Every song in _Turn of a Friendly Card_ by The Alan Parsons Project
That’s the first thing I thought of (well, after Kenny Rogers of course)—at least the title song and “Snake Eyes.”
Not really about gambling, but the title works at least: “You Better You Bet” by The Who.
“A Vegas Story (Free Drinks and a Dream)” by the Lost Dogs (lyrics [here](http://www.thelostdogs.com/lyrics/gifthorse/freedrinks.html)) works, but I don’t think it’s available for download anywhere.
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### Author:  [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/15 "2005-01-04T17:49:35Z")
“Las Vegas” or “In Las Vegas” (can’t remember) performed by Petula Clark. I have it on one of her greatest hits CDs. Gambling references and references to Sammy, Dean _and_ Noel Coward! What’s not to love?
“Queen of Hearts” by Juice Newton vaguely fits the category but only if you’re looking with a certain desperation for filler.
“Money, Money, Money” and “The Winner Takes it All” by ABBA.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/16 "2005-01-04T17:51:17Z")
“Lily, Rosemary & The Jack of Hearts” by Dylan.
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### Author:  [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/17 "2005-01-04T17:52:54Z")
_Rambling Gambling Willie_ by **Bob Dylan**
_Ooh Las Vegas_ by **Gram Parsons** (also covered by the **Cowboy Junkies** )
_Deal_ and _Loser_, both by the **Grateful Dead**
_The Card Cheat_ by **The Clash**
_Stagger Lee_ (sometimes called _Stack-a-lee_ or other variations) has been recorded by countless artists.
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### Author:  [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/18 "2005-01-04T17:55:28Z")
How about “The Jack” by AC/DC? It’s a fun, clean song about a card game.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/19 "2005-01-04T18:37:33Z")
_When You’re Hot, You’re Hot_ by Jerry Reed.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/needed-songs-with-gambling-references/283049/20 "2005-01-04T18:41:17Z")
“Queen of Hearts”–Juice Newton
“Ramblin’ Man”–Allman Brothers
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