I am a roving gambler

I've gambled all around

And wherever I see a deck of cards

I lay my money down, lay my money down

I lay my money down


I've gambled down in Washington

Gambled up in Maine

I'm heading down to Tennessee

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 and free

When I fell in love with a pretty little girl

And she fell in love with me, fell in love with me

She fell in love with me


She took me to her parlour

She cooled me with her fan

She whispered in her mother's ear

I love that gambling man, love that gambling man

I love that gambling man


I wouldn't marry a railroad man

This is the reason why

I've never seen a railroad man

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 coming back

It'll be with the gambling man, be with the gambling man

It'll be with the gambling man


I am a roving gambler

I've gambled all around

And wherever I see a deck of cards

I lay my money down, lay my money down

I lay my money down

And wherever I see a deck of cards

I lay my money down, lay my money down

I lay my money down