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 than three
When I fell in love with a pretty little gal
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 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
Who 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 a gambling man, be with a gambling man
It'll be with a gambling man.'

I am the 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
Lay my money down

Writer : MILLS, IRVING
Copyright : Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing