# Songs about games **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777 "2019-06-20T01:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/41 "2019-06-21T10:47:37Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > While it’s not _about_ games, REM’s somewhat enigmatic “Man on the Moon” references The Game of Life, Monopoly, Twenty-one, Checkers, Chess, Twister, and Risk. Well, then, let me goof on Elvis to mention that “Viva Las Vegas” of course references blackjack and poker and the roulette wheel along with shooting dice. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/42 "2019-06-21T11:29:11Z")
[Whatever happened to Pong](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG5vlpbB-T8) - Frank Black [Computer games](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q572T0MpLbc) - Mi-Sex - 1980s Australian band The Joker - Anthony Newley [[fantastic original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mq-zLh7wvw)] - [Kimberly Diane “Kim” Craig (née Day)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzzDC9MKy2k) [heaps better] ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/43 "2019-06-21T11:34:15Z")
_Trudy_ by the Charlie Daniels Band. Another poker game gone wrong song. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/44 "2019-06-21T11:53:14Z")
Snake Eyes - The Alan Parsons Project Shooting dice. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/45 "2019-06-21T12:40:16Z")
Stretching it a bit: _Many a tear has to fall But [it’s all In the game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtizr2G_7Bk) All in the wonderful game That we know As love …_ _Come on baby, let’s start to play, Come on baby, let’s play [The game of love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzVLQTovv_g) (love), love (love), lala lala lala …_ ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/46 "2019-06-21T12:47:05Z")
Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song)–Warren Zevon Glory Days–Bruce Springsteen Boom Boom Mancini-- Warren Zevon ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/47 "2019-06-21T12:47:29Z")
I know it’s sports, but Sister Wynona Carr’s "[Life is a Ballgame"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z4mih6N1h4) is too much fun to ignore. \*… The first base is temptation You know the second base is sin The third base is tribulation If you pass, you can make it in Old man Solomon is the umpire And Satan is pitchin’ a game He’ll do his best to strike you out He playin’ just the same …\* ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/48 "2019-06-21T12:55:17Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song)–Warren Zevon > > Glory Days–Bruce Springsteen > > Boom Boom Mancini-- Warren Zevon Sorry, didn’t catch the end of the OP about sports. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/49 "2019-06-21T15:30:07Z")
No specific game is mentioned, but the first song I thought of is “Games People Play” by Alan Parsons Project. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLi7Ljcy6n8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLi7Ljcy6n8) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/50 "2019-06-21T16:11:23Z")
[“Game On,”](http://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/the-guilds-game-on-bollywood-video/) a Bollywood-style song about video games from “The Guild.” [“Roll a D6,”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54VJWHL2K3I) about playing Dungeons and Dragons. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/51 "2019-06-21T16:38:01Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > I thought Stagger Lee was about a gangster in turn-of-the-century St. Louis? > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Yes, but in most versions, it’s about a poker game leading to murder. Not [a craps game leading to murder](http://www.planetslade.com/stagger-lee.html)? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/52 "2019-06-21T18:46:24Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Not [a craps game leading to murder](http://www.planetslade.com/stagger-lee.html)? You’re right, I misremembered it. My first exposure to the Stagger Lee myth was the Clash’s [Wrong 'Em Boyo"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK03STRXWGo), which starts with the lines: \*Stagger Lee met Billy And they got down to gambling Stagger Lee throwed seven Billy said that he throwed eight So Billy said, “Hey Stagger I’m gonna make my big attack I’m gonna have to leave my knife In your back” \* So they were playing dice, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/53 "2019-06-22T13:47:48Z")
[Hand Me The Wine and The Dice](https://www.themusicallyrics.com/a/364-aspects-of-love-the-musical-lyrics/3911-hand-me-the-wine-and-the-dice-lyrics.html) from Aspects of Love sort of qualifies. OTOH, I cannot think of a song that qualifies more than Tom Paxton’s [The Name of The Game is Stud](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tompaxton/thenameofthegameisstud.html) Oh Lordy, don’t you see This old Stud Poker be the ruin of me You got to get ready to shed some blood When the name of the game is Stud ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/54 "2019-06-22T14:37:43Z")
[Luck Be A Lady Tonight](https://genius.com/Frank-sinatra-luck-be-a-lady-lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/55 "2019-06-22T21:05:32Z")
[Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhVHE5V49oA)– Townes Van Zandt. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/56 "2019-06-23T00:39:39Z")
I’m listening to AC/DC’s “Bonfire Box”. How could I forget about “[The Jack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyBR-oDNUkg)”. Or isn’t it about a card game? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/57 "2019-06-23T01:31:31Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > How about Jim Croce singing about how a pool-shootin’ boy, name of Willie McCoy, got warned that You Don’t Mess Around With Jim? Or for a super brief reference Rod can “steal my daddy’s cue” in “Maggie May”. A 1991 Barry Manilow number mentions scrabble, but it was surrounded by such intriguing lyrics that I thought it warranted a good sample: \*The books we can split in half The pots and pan we’ll do the same The pictures on the wall We can split in half And you can have the **scrabble** game The money in the bank We can split in half And you can have your single name Our friends, we can split in half And we can each have half the lane OK it’s settled then You can have the t.v. I’ll take the radio Really I don’t want the t.v. Just please the radio I’ll like a lamp if you don’t want it Thank you You keep the couch you’ll need a couch That’s OK You keep the bed, I’ll buy a bed That’s OK The dog, you keep the dog I’ll come around and see him now and then. \* end of sort of derail. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/58 "2019-06-23T16:35:33Z")
Steve Goodman’s City of New Orleans: Dealing card games, with the old men in the club car Penny a point ain’t no one keeping score Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle Feel the wheels, rumblin’ 'neath the floor ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/59 "2019-06-23T19:28:46Z")
Shirley Ellis’s _The Name Game_, where the song is the game. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777/60 "2019-06-24T14:40:16Z")
Probably stretching the definition of “game” too far, but The Mountain Goats put out the album “Beat the Champ” in 2014, a concept album with multiple songs about professional wrestling. It’s quite good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-games/835777.md?page=2)