In 1960, he started in music with Gibraltarian band 'The Diamond Boys', which had no real commercial success, but played a part in Spain's introduction to popular music.In 1966 Hammond co-founded the British vocal group The Family Dogg, scoring a UK Top 10 hit with "A Way of Life" in 1969. He is probably best known for his early 70s hits "It Never Rains In Southern California" and 'Free Electric Band' - but he went on to write countless hits for other artists such as Madonna and Leo Sayer. In 1987, Hammond's composition with Diane Warren "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (recorded by Jefferson Starship) was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy. In 1988, Hammond won an Emmy Award for the song "One Moment in Time", a song he wrote along with John Bettis. In 2008, Hammond was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is immortalised in song by Half Man Half Biscuit in their 1986 track "Albert Hammond Bootleg".
His son, Albert Hammond, Jr., is a guitarist in The Strokes.
More info: www.alberthammond.net
Dime Queen of Nevada
Albert Hammond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the hopes that this will be your lucky night
And the bars come up in two's and three's, but never all at once
And the fruit machines are winning left and right
And you wipe your rhinestone glasses when they're misty
Hoping that this bummer's gonna end
And you're losing pretty heavy, but, ma, no need to worry
And it's a nickle here and a nickle there
And no one gambles harder
Than the Dime Queen of Nevada
And Jean Louis of Paris set her hair
With nickles everywhere
Well, you say the magic words and you pull the handle
The jackpot comes up every now and then
And it roles around the floor there, must be twenty bucks or more there
So you pick it up and put it back again
And it's a nickle here and a nickle there
And no one gambles harder
Than the Dime Queen of Nevada
And Jean Louis of Paris set her hair
No, no one gambles harder
Than the Dime Queen of Nevada
And Jean Louis of Paris set her hair
No, no, no one gambles harder
Than the Dime Queen of Nevada
And Jean Louis of Paris set her hair
No, no one gambles harder
Than the Dime Queen of Nevada
And Jean Louis of Paris
The lyrics of Albert Hammond's "Dime Queen of Nevada" offer a glimpse into the world of a gambler, specifically a woman known as the Dime Queen. She is described as making her way down to the casino floor in the early evening, hoping that tonight will be her lucky night. Despite losing heavily on the fruit machines, she remains hopeful that the payoff is just around the corner. The repetition of "a nickel here and a nickel there" emphasizes the small but persistent bets that the Dime Queen is making. Despite her #losses, she continues gambling with determination, earning her the title of the hardest gambler in Nevada.
The song's narrative also incorporates details of the Dime Queen's appearance and habits. She wears rhinestone glasses, implying an ostentatious, flashy style that complements the casinos' glitzy environment. Her hair is set by Jean Louis of Paris, indicating a certain level of luxury and affluence that she maintains despite her heavy gambling. Ultimately, the Dime Queen's story is one of perseverance and determination, an ode to the thrill of gambling and the hope of a big payoff.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you make your way downstairs in the early evening
The singer goes to the casino in the hopes of winning big.
In the hopes that this will be your lucky night
The singer has optimism and high hopes that they will win.
And the bars come up in two's and three's, but never all at once
The casinos only allow a limited number of bars to be open at one time to prevent patrons from getting too drunk.
And the fruit machines are winning left and right
The slot machines are paying out frequently and the artist is hopeful for a big win.
And you wipe your rhinestone glasses when they're misty
The artist is wiping their glasses in hopes of clearer vision and better gambling luck.
Hoping that this bummer's gonna end
The singer is hoping that their bad luck streak will turn around.
And you're losing pretty heavy, but, ma, no need to worry
Despite losing a lot of money, the singer reassures themselves (and perhaps their mother) that it'll pay off soon.
'cause the payoff has to be around the bend
The artist believes that they will soon hit a winning streak and earn back their money.
And it's a nickle here and a nickle there
The artist is betting in small increments as they don't have a lot of money.
And no one gambles harder
The artist is determined to win and is risking everything they have.
Than the Dime Queen of Nevada
The singer is known for their gambling in the casino and is respected for their abilities.
And Jean Louis of Paris set her hair
The artist has dressed up for their night at the casino and is wearing fancy jewelry and accessories.
Well, you say the magic words and you pull the handle
The singer puts all their hopes on the slot machine and gives it a try.
The jackpot comes up every now and then
The singer occasionally hits small jackpots.
And it roles around the floor there, must be twenty bucks or more there
The singer finds some money on the floor, which is exciting but not a huge win.
So you pick it up and put it back again
The artist is either honest or doesn't want to take any chances with their gambling luck.
No, no one gambles harder
The artist is taking big risks and is putting everything on the line to win.
Than the Dime Queen of Nevada
The singer is confident in their skills and gambling abilities, and is known as the Dime Queen of Nevada.
And Jean Louis of Paris set her hair
The singer is fashionable and stylish at the casino, with fancy accessories and jewelry.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALBERT HAMMOND, MIKE HAZLEWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind