They began writing and recording their own music in 1956, and their first hit song came in 1957, with "Bye Bye Love", written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. The song hit No. 1 in the spring of 1957, and additional hits would follow through 1958, many of them written by the Bryants, including "Wake Up Little Susie", "All I Have to Do Is Dream", and "Problems". In 1960, they signed with the major label Warner Bros. Records and recorded "Cathy's Clown", written by the brothers themselves, which was their biggest selling single. The brothers enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1961, and their output dropped off, though additional hit singles continued through 1962, with "That's Old Fashioned (That's the Way Love Should Be)" being their last top-10 hit.
Long-simmering disputes with Wesley Rose, the CEO of Acuff-Rose Music, which managed the group, a growing drug usage in the 1960s, as well as changing tastes in popular music, led to the group's decline in popularity in its native U.S., though the brothers continued to release hit singles in the U.K. and Canada, and had many highly successful tours throughout the 1960s. In the early 1970s, the brothers began releasing solo recordings, and in 1973 they officially broke up. Starting in 1983, the brothers got back together, and would continue to perform periodically until Phil's death in 2014. Don died seven years later.
The group was highly influential on the music of the generation that followed it. Many of the top acts of the 1960s were heavily influenced by the close-harmony singing and acoustic guitar playing of the Everly Brothers, including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Simon & Garfunkel. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked the Everly Brothers No. 1 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class of 1986, and into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Don was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019, earning the organization's first Iconic Riff Award for his distinctive rhythm guitar intro to the Everlys' massive 1957 hit "Wake Up Little Susie".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Everly_Brothers
Roving Gambler
The Everly Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 not many more weeks than three
When I fell in love with a pretty little gal, she fell in love with me
Fell in love with me, fell in love with me
She took me in her parlor, she cooled me with her fan
She whispered low in her mother's ear, "I love that gambling man''
"Daughter, oh dear daughter, how can you treat me so?
To leave your dear old mother, and with a gambler go?''
With a gambler go, with a gambler go
I've gambled down in Washington; I've gambled over in Spain
I'm goin' down to Georgia to gamble my last game
Gamble my last game, gamble my last game
"Oh mother, oh dear mother, you know I love you well
But the love I have for this gambling man, no human tongue can tell''
No human tongue can tell, no human tongue can tell
"I hear that train a-coming, coming 'round the curve
A-whistling and a-blowing straining every nerve"
Strainin' every nerve, strainin' every nerve
"Mother, oh dear mother, I'll tell you if I can
If you ever see me comin' back, I'll be with the gambling man
Be with the gambling man
Be with the gambling man"
I am a roving gambler, I've gambled down in town
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 The Everly Brothers is a traditional folk song about a gambler who travels from town to town betting his money on cards. The song begins with the gambler introducing himself and his love for gambling, stating that whenever he finds a deck of cards, he lays his money down. He then proceeds to tell the story of how he met a pretty little gal in Washington whom he fell in love with, but her mother disapproved of their relationship because of his gambling. The gambler expresses his love for the girl and his passion for gambling, saying that he will continue to bet his money in Georgia.
The song discusses the gambler's addiction to gambling and his willingness to risk everything for it. The lyrics show how his gambling has caused conflict with those around him, as his love interest's mother disapproves of him and his lifestyle. However, it also emphasizes his love for the girl and his difficulty in choosing between her and his addiction.
Overall, "Roving Gambler" is a song that explores the theme of addiction and the conflicts that arise from it. It portrays the struggles that gamblers face, including social disapproval and the potential loss of loved ones, and highlights the internal battle between one's love for gambling and their obligations to others.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a roving gambler, I've gambled down in town
I am a wandering gambler who has taken chances in various towns.
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards I lay my money down
Whenever I come across a set of playing cards, I take the opportunity to place my bets.
Lay my money down, lay my money down
I place my bets and take my chances, risking the money I have to win big.
I had not been in Washington not many more weeks than three
It had been only three weeks since I arrived in Washington.
When I fell in love with a pretty little gal, she fell in love with me
I fell in love with a beautiful woman, and she reciprocated my feelings.
Fell in love with me, fell in love with me
We both fell in love with each other deeply and quickly.
She took me in her parlor, she cooled me with her fan
She welcomed me into her home and provided me comfort and relaxation.
She whispered low in her mother's ear, 'I love that gambling man'
She expressed her love for me in secret to her mother, despite my tendency to take risks with gambling.
Love that gamblin' man, love that gamblin' man
She adored me despite my vices, particularly my love for gambling.
Daughter, oh dear daughter, how can you treat me so?
Her mother is concerned about her daughter's choice to be with me, a gambler.
To leave your dear old mother, and with a gambler go?
Her mother is worried that her daughter is abandoning her to be with me, a risky and irresponsible gambler.
I've gambled down in Washington; I've gambled over in Spain
I have taken risks with gambling in various places, including both Washington and Spain.
I'm goin' down to Georgia to gamble my last game
I plan on going to Georgia to play my final game, risking everything I have left.
Gamble my last game, gamble my last game
I am willing to take one final risk and gamble everything I have left in one last game.
Oh mother, oh dear mother, you know I love you well
The daughter loves her mother very much and wants her to understand that despite her choice to be with me, a gambler.
But the love I have for this gambling man, no human tongue can tell
The daughter loves me deeply and passionately, to an extent that is difficult to fully express in words.
No human tongue can tell, no human tongue can tell
Her love for me is so intense that words cannot fully do justice to the depth of her feelings.
I hear that train a-coming, coming 'round the curve
The sound of a train approaching can be heard, signaling the daughter's imminent departure.
A-whistling and a-blowing straining every nerve
The train is making loud noises as it approaches, making everyone tense and nervous.
Strainin' every nerve, strainin' every nerve
The tense atmosphere is causing everyone to be on edge and feel stressed.
Mother, oh dear mother, I'll tell you if I can
The daughter tries to explain to her mother that if she sees her again, she will be with me, a gambler.
If you ever see me comin' back, I'll be with the gambling man
The daughter reassures her mother that if she ever returns, she will be with me, the gambler she loves.
Be with the gambling man
The daughter's love for me and her willingness to take risks is stronger than her desire to remain obedient and respectful to her mother's wishes.
I am a roving gambler, I've gambled down in town
The song ends with me reiterating my identity as a gambler who has taken risks in different places.
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards I lay my money down
Once again, I express my tendency to take risks with gambling whenever I have the opportunity.
Lay my money down, lay my money down
I continue to take chances and put my money on the line, accepting the consequences of my choices, whether they lead to success or failure.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: E. BRITT, Z. MANNERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrGhillie8
found this on Christmas morning! what a lovely gift. thanks for posting and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Steve Mann
my 2 year old son loves this album>>>especially before bed time
Frits Sontrop
The Everly's at their very, very best!
Debbie Dunn
I have had this Album for years but not this cover ....I am 5,000 miles from my Album collection......Thank you , thank you for posting Happiness from Tbilisi
George Styer
As A youngter I lived in the depressed Lancashire town of Wigan...The only hapiness I had was an old record player and the only recored was this one.. Later years 60 of them..I found that this album was the only one that at the end of their career that could be played. All this was due to Dons ambiton to beacome a business man and sold out the rights of all of their music written or played The only music left was "Songs our Daddy taught us" which I belive was free from copyright...In my humble opinion this was a really great album Sad for the loss of Phil, his harmony was really outstanding. At a show at Manchester England they sang "Let It Be Me" and I thinks this was to reapir the damage that Don had done to their career and relationship....BUT....if you know any differnt please tell me....I love their music
Ruth Kahler
It took 2, It was not just Don. Let it be me was the song they usually sang at the end.