Roving Gambler
Billie Joe Armstrong Norah Jones Lyrics
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Whenever I meet with a deck of cards
I lay my money down
Lay my money down, lay my money down
I had not been in Washington many more weeks than three
I met up with a pretty little girl
She fell in love with me
She took me in her parlor, she cooled me with a fan
She whispered low in her mother's ears
I love that gambling man
Love that gambling man, love that gambling man
Oh daughter oh dear daughter how can you treat me so?
Leave your dear old mother
And with that gambler go
With that gambler go, with that gambler go
My mother, oh dear mother you can not understand
If you ever see me coming back
I'll be with a gambling man
With that gambling man, with that gambling man
I left her in El Paso and I wound up in Maine
I met up with a gambling man
Got in a poker game
Got in a poker game, got in a poker game
We put our money in the pot and dealt the cards around
I saw him deal from the bottom of the deck
Shot that gambler down
Shot that gambler down, shot that gambler down
Well, now I'm in the jailhouse got a number for my name
The Warden said as he locked the door
You've gambled your last game
Gambled your last game, gambled your last game
I am a roving gambler I gambled all around
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards
I lay my money down
Lay my money down, lay my money down
The song "Roving Gambler" by Billie Joe is a traditional folk song that tells the story of a gambler who travels around, playing cards and betting money. The singer of the song is the gambler himself, who tells his story in a matter-of-fact way, without any feelings of remorse or regret. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the roving gambler announcing his presence and his intentions: wherever he goes, he will lay his money down. The recurring refrain, "Lay my money down," underscores his single-minded determination, and suggests his unwavering commitment to his chosen lifestyle.
The second verse introduces a love interest, a pretty girl who falls in love with the gambler despite his obvious flaws. Her mother (presumably) disapproves of the relationship, but the girl does not care; she loves the gambler, and is willing to leave her family behind to be with him. The mother's lines ("Oh daughter oh dear daughter how can you treat me so? / Leave your dear old mother / And with that gambler go") serve as a warning of the dangers of loving a man like the roving gambler.
The third verse brings the story to a tragic end: the gambler, after leaving the girl in El Paso and traveling to Maine, gets in a poker game with another gambler, only to discover that he is cheating. In response, the roving gambler shoots him down, and finds himself in jail. The final verse features the image of the gambler back where he began, laying his money down once again. Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about the perils of gambling and the risks of following one's heart instead of heeding the warnings of others.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a roving gambler I gambled all around
I am a wandering gambler who has gambled extensively
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards
Whenever I come across a pack of cards
I lay my money down
I put my money on the line
Lay my money down, lay my money down
I put my money on the line multiple times
I had not been in Washington many more weeks than three
I was only in Washington for a few weeks
I met up with a pretty little girl
I encountered an attractive young woman
She fell in love with me
She developed feelings for me
She fell in love with me, fell in love with me
She fell for me deeply
She took me in her parlor, she cooled me with a fan
She welcomed me into her home and cooled me down with a fan
She whispered low in her mother's ears
She whispered softly into her mother's ears
I love that gambling man
I love that man who gambles
Love that gambling man, love that gambling man
I really love that man who gambles
Oh daughter oh dear daughter how can you treat me so?
Oh daughter, how can you treat me this way?
Leave your dear old mother
Abandon your dear old mother
And with that gambler go
And go with that gambler
With that gambler go, with that gambler go
Leave with that gambler, leave with that gambler
My mother, oh dear mother you can not understand
Mother, you can't comprehend
If you ever see me coming back
If you ever see me return
I'll be with a gambling man
I'll be with a man who gambles
With that gambling man, with that gambling man
With that man who gambles, with that man who gambles
I left her in El Paso and I wound up in Maine
I left her in El Paso and ended up in Maine
I met up with a gambling man
I met a man who gambles
Got in a poker game
Got involved in a poker match
Got in a poker game, got in a poker game
Participated in multiple poker matches
We put our money in the pot and dealt the cards around
We put our money in the middle and dealt the cards
I saw him deal from the bottom of the deck
I witnessed him deal from the bottom of the deck
Shot that gambler down
Shot that man who gambles
Shot that gambler down, shot that gambler down
Shot that man who gambles twice
Well, now I'm in the jailhouse got a number for my name
Now I'm in jail with a number for identification
The Warden said as he locked the door
The warden stated as he bolted the door
You've gambled your last game
You've played your final round of gambling
Gambled your last game, gambled your last game
Played your final round of gambling twice
I am a roving gambler I gambled all around
I am a wandering gambler who has gambled extensively
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards
Whenever I come across a pack of cards
I lay my money down
I put my money on the line
Lay my money down, lay my money down
I put my money on the line multiple times
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind