Roving Gambler
Norah Jones & Billie Joe Lyrics


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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

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 fell in love with me, 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

Overall Meaning

The song "Roving Gambler" by Norah Jones and Billie Joe is a traditional folk ballad that tells the story of a gambler who travels from place to place and bets money on games of chance. The lyrics are about the ups and downs of the gambler's life, the romantic relationships he forms along the way, and the ultimate consequences of his actions.


The song opens with the gambler describing himself and his way of life. He is a "roving gambler" who has traveled all around and always bets his money when he finds a deck of cards. The refrain "Lay my money down" emphasizes his commitment to his lifestyle and the risks he takes.


The second verse introduces a woman who falls in love with the gambler. She takes him into her parlor and tells her mother that she loves him, despite his gambling habit. The mother is unhappy about her daughter's choice of partner and warns her about the dangers of being with a gambler.


In the third verse, the gambler leaves the woman and goes to Maine where he meets another gambler and gets involved in a poker game. The game turns sour when he realizes the other gambler is cheating, and he shoots him dead. The final verse finds the gambler in jail, facing the consequences of his actions.


Overall, the song tells a cautionary tale about the dangers of gambling and the risks of living a reckless and addictive lifestyle. It also touches on themes of love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions.


Line by Line Meaning

I am a roving gambler I gambled all around
I'm a wanderer who can't resist a good card game.


Whenever I meet with a deck of cards
Whenever I come across a pack of cards.


I lay my money down
I bet my money on the game.


Lay my money down, lay my money down
I place my bet, hoping to win big.


I had not been in Washington many more weeks than three
I had only been in Washington for a short time.


I met up with a pretty little girl
I met a beautiful woman.


She fell in love with me
She fell for me and my gambling ways.


She fell in love with me, fell in love with me
She was smitten with me.


She took me in her parlor, she cooled me with a fan
She welcomed me into her home and offered me comfort.


She whispered low in her mother's ears
She confided in her mother.


I love that gambling man
She had feelings for me, despite my gambling habits.


Love that gambling man, love that gambling man
She was truly in love with me and didn't care about the consequences.


Oh daughter oh dear daughter how can you treat me so?
Her mother was upset with her daughter's actions.


Leave your dear old mother
Abandoning her mother for a gambler was unthinkable.


And with that gambler go
Running off with me was going too far.


With that gambler go, with that gambler go
Choosing to be with me over her family was a life-changing decision.


My mother, oh dear mother you cannot understand
Her mother couldn't see why she would choose me.


If you ever see me coming back
If she ever comes home again.


I'll be with a gambling man
She would still be with me, despite the risks.


With that gambling man, with that gambling man
She was committed to spending her life with me.


I left her in El Paso and I wound up in Maine
I left her in one state and ended up in another.


I met up with a gambling man
I found another gambler to play against.


Got in a poker game
We started playing a game of poker.


We put our money in the pot and dealt the cards around
We bet our money and played the game.


I saw him deal from the bottom of the deck
I caught him cheating in the game.


Shot that gambler down
I killed him for cheating.


Shot that gambler down, shot that gambler down
I took revenge for his dishonesty.


Well now I'm in the jailhouse got a number for my name
I got arrested and am now in prison.


The Warden said as he locked the door
The prison warden spoke to me before locking me up.


You've gambled your last game
I was told I won't be able to gamble anymore.


Gambled your last game, gambled your last game
My gambling days are over, and I'll be paying the price for my actions.


Lay my money down, lay my money down
I'm still caught up in the thrill of gambling, but it has cost me everything.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Charlie Kucharski

Some people who sing duets don't necessarily blend that well together. These two are dynamite on this song. Glad I listened.

A 애미 BBB

My favorite song of this cover album!

Deniue

Still think the best version is Jerry Reed

Brian covey

@RoseRed360 my favorite version- hank Thompson. Great tune

Brian covey

@RoseRed360 everly brothers

RoseRed360

I have never heard anything like his version

Kurt Cobain

Aku tersesat
Menuju hatimu
Beri aku jalan yang indah
Ijinkan ku lepas penatku
'tuk sejenak lelap di bahumu

Dapatkah selamanya kita bersama
Menyatukan perasaan kau dan aku
Semoga cinta kita kekal abadi
Sesampainya akhir nanti selamanya

Tentang cinta yang datang perlahan
Membuatku takut kehilangan
Ku titipkan cahaya terang
Tak padam di dera goda dan masa

Dapatkah selamanya kita bersama
Menyatukan perasaan kau dan aku
Semoga cinta kita kekal abadi
Sesampainya akhir nanti selamanya

Dapatkah selamanya kita bersama
Menyatukan perasaan k

Brondon Legong Broni

Apaan sih

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