Speak of the hearts that this vagabond has broken
Tell of the fun that I've had
Speak of the loving and the laughing and the joking
Back when I was glad
Back when I was glad
Now let's play it real pretty, my guitar

Tell of the time when the riverboats were churning
Oh what a gambler's spree
Tell of the time when old lady luck was burning
Every one but me
Every one but me
Now let's tell it again, my guitar

Well tell of the time when I took my biggest gamble
In a game where hearts were high
Tell of the way that my heart began to ramble
When she caught me eye
When she caught me eye
Now just once more, my guitar

Go tell all my friends this life's a game of poker
A fool and his gold must part
And in this hectic world the biggest fools the joker
Who gambles with his heart
Who gambles with his heart

Now let's tell it real sad, my guitar

That's the story of the gambler's guitar