I am a rovin' gambler--
I've gambled all around--
And wherever I see a deck of ca-a-ards,
I lay my money down,
Lay my money down,
I lay my money down.
I've gambled down in Washington,
Ga-ambled up in Maine;
I'm headed down to Tenessee-ee-ee
To knock down my last game,
Knock down my last game,
To knock down my last game.
I had not been in Washington
Many more weeks than three,
When I fell in love with a pretty little ga-a-al,
And she fell in love with me,
Fell in love with me,
She fell in love with me.
She took me to her parlor;
She cooled me with her fan;
She whispered in her mother's e-e-ear,
"I love that gamblin' man,
Love that gamblin' man,
I love that gamblin' man.
"I wouldn't marry a railroad man;
This is the reason why:
I've never seen a railroad ma-a-an
Wouldn't tell his wife a lie,
Tell his wife a lie,
Wouldn't tell his wife a lie.
"Oh, Mother, oh dear Mother,
I'll tell you if I can:
If you ever see me comin' ba-a-ack,
It'll be with a gamblin' man,
Be with a gamblin' man,
It'll be with a gamblin' man."
I am a rovin' gambler--
I've gambled all around--
And wherever I see a deck of ca-a-ards,
I lay my money down,
Lay my money down,
I lay my money down.
And wherever I see a deck of ca-a-ards,
I lay my money down,
Lay my money down,
Lay my money down.