Rovin' Gambler

i’m a rovin’ gambler
i’ve gambled down in town
whenever i meet with a deck a cards
i lay my money down
boys, i lay my money down
i’ve gambled up in England
gambled out in Spain
i’m on my way to Georgia
to knock down my last game
knock down my last game
well, i had not been in Washington
many more weeks than thrÕ
when i fell in love with a pretÙ little girl
and she fell in love with me
and she fell in love with me
she took me in her parlor
she cooled me with her fan
she whispered low in her mama’s ear
i love this gamblin’ man
ma, i love this love this gamblin’ man
well daughter, my dear daughter
how can you treat me so?
to leave your poor old mama
and with this gambler go?
and with this gambler go?
well mama, my dear mama
you know i love you well
but the love i hold for this gamblin’ man
no human tongue can tell
ma, no human tongue can tell
i’d never marry a farmer
he’s always in the rain
i’d rather marry a gamblin’ man
with a big gold watch and chain
ma, big gold watch and chain
i’d never marry a railroad man
the reason i tell you why
you never did see a railroad man
who wouldn’t tell his wife a lie
ma, wouldn’t tell his wife a lie
i hear the train a comin’
it’s comin’ round the curve
it’s whistlin’ and a blowin’
and a strainin’ every nerve
ma, strainin’ every nerve
well, it’s goodbye, goodbye mama
i’ll tell you if i can
if you never see me come home again
it’ll be with a gamblin’ man
be with a gamblin’ man
well, i’m a rovin’ gambler,
i’ve gambled down in town
whenever i mÕt with a deck of cards
i lay my money down
boys, lay my money down