Roll of the Dice
Posted at 4:45 AM on March 13, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(46 Comments)
Well, here it is, Friday the 13th again. Didn't we just do this?
Yes we did, last month, and we will again in November.
Three F-13's in one year!
If you have a problem with it, you were destined to have a miserable 2009 even before the economy went haywire.
A listener named Don wrote to say:
"This might be an appropriate day for some songs of luck, fate, or even gambling."
Indeed it might.
But Don has an ulterior motive:
"This May I've been asked to make a presentation on depictions of gambling in traditional and popular American music at an academic international gambling research conference. (Yes, there is such a thing.) I was thinking of asking Heartlanders for help in coming up with examples ..."
Depictions of gambling in song? Anyone? I know we have some experience with the gambling part, at least. Several entries in yesterday's "uncle" stories depicted a few poker playing relatives at family gatherings, and in Becky's case, a card game in the church boiler room at her wedding.
When I think of a gambler in a song, I see someone a bit unreliable ...
My mother was a tailor, she sowed these new blue jeans,
My sweetheart was a gambler, Lord, down in New Orleans.
Now the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time when he's satisfied is when he's on a drunk.
He fills his glasses up to the brim and he'll pass the cards around
And the only pleasure he gets out of life is rambling from town to town
(Bob Dylan - "House of the Rising Sun")
... and fated to fail because he is compelled to take foolish chances.
Play your cards close to the vest
Pick a crop with a gambler's guess
Put your money down, throw in the deed
But the ace is up the banker's sleeve
This ain't no way to live your life ...
It can break your heart and take your last dime
It's the only way of life I know.
So I'll give the dice ... another throw.
(Neal & Leandra - A Gambler's Life)
In the song "The Roving Gambler", he's a compulsive rambler ...
I am a roving gambler, I gambled all around
Whenever I see a deck of cards, I lay my money down.
... but he's also got some kind of James-Bond-grade hotness.
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'".
I would not marry a farmer, he's always in the rain
All I want is the gambling man who wears the big gold chain.
How about it? Can we help Don make a list of songs about gamblers and gambling and luck and fate?
If you're not sure the song you have in mind applies, why not roll the dice?
After all, what have you got to lose?
Comments (46)
Harry Nilsson (sp?) wrote that "One Is The Luckiest Number."
How about Kenny Rogers: "Know when to hold'em know when to fold 'em..."
"Lord I was born a gamblin' man..." Who's this one by?
Good passtime for a Fri 13!
Aloha Heartlanders - Happy Friday!
Doc Pomus wrote "Viva Las Vegas", and another song "I'm On a Roll" which uses gambling jargon to talk about success with the ladies. He wrote some really great songs.
my fave is Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns and Money" (he was gambling in Havana....) any WZ in the RH archives?
it's warming today so that's a lucky day.
Michelle, is that song done by Bob Seger?
But I got to ramble (ramblin' man) hey
I got to gamble (gamblin' man)
Got to, got to ramble (ramblin' man)
I, I was born a ramblin' gamblin' man
Not that I know anything about Bob Seger, but that's what a Google search gets me.
Dale -- thanks for the comment that not all of us walk around w/ a catalog of song lyrics in our head. This is one of those morning where I sit back in amazement of my fellow Heartlanders and the broad spectrum of musical knowledge you all possess. I am horrible at song titles & lyrics. And cars too -- after four years with my "new" car, I still have occasional trouble finding it in the parking lot. So thanks to everyone for their suggestions this morning... I'll be just sittting back and listening today!
Lord I was born a ramblin man tryin to make a livin and doin the best I can when it's time for leavin I hope you'll understand...Lord I was born a ramblin man
o well it rhymes with gamblin anyway....
How about Neil Young
Cripple Creek Ferry
"The gambler tips his hat...it's the second part of the cruise and you know he hates to lose"
Hi Good People,
Today I get to wear jeans to work, so I have more time to google. Here are a few results: Ray Charles - Black Jack,
Abba - Winner Takes It All, Beatles - I Want to Hold Your Hand,
Frank Sinatra - Luck Be a Lady.
Better go pull the jeans out of the undone laundry.
Everyone have a good f-13 Friday!
Just turned on before you mentioned your request for gambling songs and then I thought of "In the Jail House Now" which I know from Ray & Glover. Then, coincidentally enough, you played a Spider John Koerner song.
Well, my suggestion is In The Jail House now. Quit that running around and shootin' dice Dale.
-Josh, St. Paul
How about a blues about fate and luck by the famous bluesman, Robert Johnson. I have a recording by Clapton, Me and Mr. Johnson, that has some that might work: Last Fair Deal Gone
Down; Little Queen of Spades:If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day.
How about gambling on love...one of my favorite Ian and Sylvia songs is "Red Velvet" from their Four Strong Winds album...Gordon Lightfoot has done a version for an album dedicated to Ian songs. But...the dog is sleeping in front of my copy so I surely can't disturb him to look...I think there are other gambling songs on that album but lyrics and titles escape me...
Warming up? Such a good gamble on spring.
Hi, thought I would share a Friday the 13th story with you all:
My fiancee and I used to really enjoy Friday the 13ths -- we'd do something crazy (like drive up to Duluth just to get dinner and then drive home - haha, real wild, I know). But anyways, that all changed last Friday, the 13th of February. Our apartment in St. Anthony burned down! We're still living in a hotel and trying to have a very bland one this time around.
Hope you all have a great day! (and no apt fires)
How about "Luck be a Lady Tonight" or just about anything from Guys and Dolls?" The musical "Bells Are Rining" has great betting on horses songs. I also remember vaguesly "I'm the luckiiest girl in the USA.
Beware of black cats!
Got a few:
"Diamond Lil" by David Bromberg
"Ooh Las Vegas" by Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris
"Tumbling Dice" by the Rolling Stones
I found a "real" gambling song by Jimmy Dean! (I don't suppose this one is available on CD.? Here are the lyrics:
Bill Jackson was a poor old dub,
Who joined the Darktown Poker Club
But cursed the day he told them he would join.
His money used to go like it had wings
If he held Queens, someone had Kings
And each night he would contribute all his coins.
He said I'm going to play em tight tonight
No bobtail flush is gonna make me bite
When I get's in, my hands going to be a peach.
So he played em tight, but lost his pile
And Bill got peevish after a while
So he rose, got up, and made this speech.
He said - Now you all see this brand new razor
I've had it sharpened just today
And I'm comin''- in with my own rules
That you must follow as you play.
Now keep them boney hands on the table when you deal'em please
And don't be slipp'en any aces down there in between your knees.
And don't make any of them funny signs like your trying to tip off your hand
Just talk in American, boy American - so's I can understand.
And don't be dealing off the bottom, cause Oh! that's rough
Just take Five, Five - then stop, that's enough.
Now when you bet, put up them chips, cause I don't like it when you shy.
If you get busted - go get some, cause I won't be here by & by.
Pass them cards for me to shuffle every time before you deal
Then if anything wrong, I must see.
Cause you ain't going to play this game according to Mr. Hoyle,
You're going to play this here game according to me.
Now sitting right there at that there clan
There chanced to be a one eyed man
And Bill kept watching from the corner of his eye.
If ol' one-eye would deal'em then
It would have cost that Bill another five or ten.
So he rose, looked all around and with a sigh,
He said 'Lord' he said - but it's an awful shame,
But there's someone cheating in this here game
Of course it don't do for me to name the guy.
So I'll refrain from mentioning the party's name
But if I catch him cheating just once again
I'm gonna take my fist and close that other eye.
Now you all see this brand new razor
Well I've had it sharpened just today
I'm comin' in with my own rules
That you must follow when you play. - Egad
Keep your hands up there when you deal'em please
And don't be puttin' those wildies slip in between your knees.
And don't make them funny signs like your trying to tip off your hand
Just talk American - Big A-A-A so's I can understand.
And don't be takin' off the bottom, cause I've told you before - that's rough!
This is the Army game, Five, Five - then halt, that's enough.
When you bet, let's see them Reds and Blues, cause I don't like it when you shy.
If you run out of gas - go get pumped up, I won't be here by & by.
Pass them pasteboards for me to shuffle every time before you deal - let me ripple.
Anything's wrong, I wanna see.
I mean you ain't gonna play this game now according to Mr. Hoyle,
You're going to play this game according to me.
Henry, if you break the seal on them new set of Bicycles - we'll go on from here....Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.
Eric,
Egads! Sorry about your apartment fire!
The Brass Kings have a song about that very thing, looking through the ruins with the insurance adjuster. I'll try to work it in to this hour of the show!
Sorry, I forgot to mention. The song is called "Darktown Poker Club."
How about "The Wheel of Fortune", sung by - taking a chance on this - Kay Ballard? Or was that Kate Smith? Or Mary Chapin Carpenter, "I Feel Lucky"?
Has anyone suggested Joan Baez and "I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home, if people don't like me, they can leave me alone . . . "
or Judy Collin's song with the line "loving of the game"?
Eric - i have won $16,600,762 "Hoyle dollars" - as i play high stakes blackjack sometimes while listening to RH. (not online) i have no guts (not to mention money) to gamble for real, but this once i wish those bucks were real so i could give you some!
the driving to Duluth brings to mind an Ole and Lena joke my Mom told me....
I know this may be a bit of a stretch for the RH archives, but the Alan Parson Project album "Turn of a Friendly Card" had a gambling theme, if you remember the songs "Time" or "Games People Play".
Dale -- Thanks for the song! I think we got off a little easier than the Brass Kings did (no hot coals left in my books anyways!).
The good news about this whole ordeal is that we thankfully have just found a place to move into next week.
Blackhoof Barb - That is a ton of Hoyle money! too bad you can't bring it out of the land of hoyle.
P.S. is your Ole and Lena joke the one about them driving all the way to duluth on their honeymoon?
T, Kay Starr sang "Wheel of Fortune"
Barb, I know that Ole and Lena joke...
Eric, may you be in a place you can call home by the next "Friday, the 13th" -- as in the old Pogo comic strip would call any day that was the 13th of the month. So...before "Friday, the 13th on Monday" in April....wishing you such luck.
I'm pretty sure that the subject is pretty much covered in Guys and Dolls....
What about the Charlie Daniels Band take on the gambling for a soul theme - "Devil Went Down to Georgia"? I have vague memories of hearing on accordion on the Morning Show years ago...
Wow there sure are alot of good suggestions!
After much thinking, I came up with....
Wall of Death, Richard Thompson
Temptation, Tom Waits a bit of a stretch but I think it works.
Fun topic.......I'll keep pondering.
I have not been able to listen continuously this morning... So I had to get to my computer (just now) to check the playlist for the obvious.
No selection of songs about luck would be complete without Mary Chapin-Carpenter who speaks for me.
I feel Lucky!
Brad
I remembed an old Steve Goodman song City of New Orleans has a line about old men playing cards in the club car. It may or may not fit your show today. Anyways it would be like talking and or hearing from an old friend.
Good Morning!
I seem to recall a song about riverboat gambling by John Hartford but can't pull any more out of my brain than that.
Happy Friday everyone!
Wasn't "Stewball" a race horse? (Peter, Paul & Mary)
back in from the barn, where Dream is decidedly happy that it is warmer today, so it's a lucky day for her. Dream is suspect of any day. Alba is above all of that and the rest don't care.... eat, burp, sleep.
Eric and Cynthia - yes, that's the joke!
I can't think of titles but surely there are gambling songs sung by the likes of Dave Van Ronk, Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin' Hopkins, Geoff Muldaur, Bessie Smith...wish I had time to go looking, but it's time to brave (it's snowing up here) cold and snow and feed animals.
Sting's "Shape of My Heart," is about a guy who "...deals the cards to find an answer, the sacred geometry of chance, the hidden law of a probably outcome - The numbers lead a dance."
"Lido" Boz Scaggs
Oh, for Pete's sake...Sorry 'bout the typo in the previous post...Here's my favorite line from Sting's "Shape of My Heart" sans typo. "He deals the cards to find an answer, the sacred geometry of chance, the hidden law of a probable outcome - The numbers lead a dance."
Looks like Michelle figured out the ramblin'/gamblin' substitution for the Allman Bros. song. There are many with this connection. The Reverend Jerry Jeff Walker had one, as well as at the other end of the spectrum, the Monkees' Midnight Train (same vein as Steve Goodman).
Gram Parsons is a great source. It's usually alluded to, as in Sin City with the Flying Burrito Brothers.
For an academic bent, Don may prefer MIke's suggestion. Turn of Friendly Card was an entire song cycle built on a man turning to gambling as an alternative to his mid-life crisis.
Don't forget Blood Sweat and Tears Go Down Gambling. Or Bonnie Raitt's Gamblin Man. Or Dylan and Rambling Gambling Willie...
The caffeine hasn't kicked in yet, so I can't come up with any new songs, but I do know that Nilsson's song "One" starts "One is the loneliest number...."
Especially good tunes today!
How about:
"Gambling Bar Room Blues" by John Mellencamp - one of my favorites from Jimmie Rodgers
"The Gambler" by King's Singers - from a favorite album of the erstwhile Morning Show
Wow!
I am overwhelmed (but not surprised) by the creativity and knowledge of this group. I've been thinking about this for a couple of months now, and you guys managed to come up with at least a dozen songs that are either new to me or that I'd forgotten about. This is a big, big help.
A few others:
Atlantic City - Bruce Springsteen (the anti-matter to Viva Las Vegas)
Politics and Poker, from "Fiorello"
Mr Mudd and Mr. Gold - Townes VanZandt
Ramblin' Gamblin' Man - Cisco Houston (there would be a lot fewer songs about gamblin' if it didn't rhyme with ramblin')
Camptown Races and Shanghai, both by Stephen Foster
You Oughta Be Satisfied Now - Woody Guthrie
The Ascot Gavotte - My Fair Lady
Heart Alone - Bill Staines
M.Etta - "Shape of My Heart" is my favorite of the genre, especially Grace Griffith's version.
Thank you, one and all. And especially, thank you, Dale!
I just wanted to thank you for the Lou Reed/cow tipping song. I walked into work with a smile on my face.
Well, after about 15 minutes of research, it appears that the traditional rock 'n roll stuff has lots of references:
Ace of Spades - Motorhead
Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
You Better You Bet - The Who
Gambler's Dream - Molly Hatchet
Gambler's Blues - Golden Earring
A few of the more traditional Morning Show/Radio Heartland artists might be:
Fine and Mellow - Billie Holiday ("Love will make you drink and gamble...")
Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine
Gambler - Bobby Bare
Riverboat Gambler - Carly Simon
The Gambling Song - Cliff Richard
I'm sure more research would turn up more...
There's A Place In The World For A Gambler by Dan Fogelberg August 13, 1951 ~ December 16, 2007
There's a place in the world for a gambler
There's a burden that only he can bear
There's a place in the world for a gambler
And he sees...oh, yes he sees...
And he sees...oh, yes he sees...
There's a song in the heart of a woman
That only the truest of loves can release
There's a song in the heart of a woman
Set it free...oh, set it free
Set it free...oh, set it free
Set it free...oh, set it free
There's a light in the depths of your darkness
There's a calm at the eye of every storm
There's a light in the depths of your darkness
Let it shine...oh, let it shine
Let it shine...oh, let it shine
Let it shine...oh, let it shine
Let it shine
The above reference to Dan Fogelbergs song always gives me goose bumps and makes me tear up for some reason or another. I always remember one of his concerts and he had us all singing that song, and holding up our lighters. It was beautiful.
Re: holding up lighters in a concert - my son has shown me the application you can get for an iPod which transforms the screen of said iPod into a lit, white lighter, which you can then hold up in a concert and wave as you would the real thing. Advantage - no more burned fingers! Would you bet that is the wave of future concert goers?
Yea, my sister showed me that also. I'm sure it will be the wave of the future, if the price of them iPhones goes down.
Well, what do ya know...I wrote a gambling type song that's on an album I just finished. The song is called "Lady Luck." For a while last year, the lunch and maintenance workers at the school where I work, would get together and buy group Powerball tickets. I was thinking about how goofy we would get hoping to snatch the big one! It's a bluesy number..Here are the lyrics...
Lady Luck by Lin Mulhern
I'm gonna spend my last $10 on a girl I want to know.
She's been calling me lately, though not on the telephone.
In the back of my mind, she says, "Come in the water's fine."
She can be so divine....Lady Luck.
Lady Luck's got a way of haunting you
Makes you feel like you're on your way to something new.
Sneaks around inside your brain
and makes you feel a little insane
cause she wants the best for you
Can you really believe that it's true?
Bends the truth a little too....Lady Luck
She says this time
go on a play the big Lotto
She says this time go play that Powerball today
Gonna run to the corner station
and play that 10 in a big way
cause I don't need that gallon of milk ...for the kids
and the eggs we can do without
cause I'll buy whatever we need next week
when we get the big payout
Lady luck is a callin' me
Lady Luck she's my destiny.
Hope this helps your research, Don. Contact me if you really want to hear it.
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