Unknown - Roving Gambler Lyrics

Roving Gambler

I am a roving gambler, I gamble all around
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards I lay my money down.

I've gambled down in Washington, I've gambled over in Spain
I'm goin' down to Georgia to gamble my last game.

I had not been in Washington not many more weeks than three
When I fell in love with a pretty little gal, she fell in love with me.

She took me to her parlor, she cooled me with her fan
She whispered low in her mother's ear, "I love that gambling man."

"Oh daughter, Oh dear daughter, how can you treat me so?
To leave your dear old mother, and with a gambler go?"

"Oh mother, Oh dear mother, you know I love you well
But the love I have for this gambling man, no human tongue can tell."
"I would not marry a farmer, he's always in the dirt
The man I want is a gambling man who wears a silken shirt."

"I would not marry a railroad man, I'll tell you the reason why
I never knew a railroad man wouldn't tell his wife a lie."

"I would not marry a cowboy, he's always in the rain
The man I want is a gambling man who wears a golden chain."

"I hear that train a-coming, it's a-coming 'round the curve
A-whistling and a-blowing and a-straining every nerve"

"Oh mother, Oh dear mother, I'll tell you if I can
If you ever see me back again, it'll be with that gambling man."

Recorded by Cisco Huston, Dyer-Bennett