I am a roving gambler
I've gambled all around
And wherever I see a deck of cards
I lay my money down, lay my money down
I lay my money down

I've gambled down in Washington
Gambled up in Maine
I'm heading down to Tennessee
To knock down my last game, knock down my last game
To knock down my last game

I had not been in Washington
Many more weeks and free
When I fell in love with a pretty little girl
And she fell in love with me, fell in love with me
She fell in love with me

She took me to her parlour
She cooled me with her fan
She whispered in her mother's ear
I love that gambling man, love that gambling man
I love that gambling man

I wouldn't marry a railroad man
This is the reason why
I've never seen a railroad man
Wouldn't tell his wife a lie, tell his wife a lie
Wouldn't tell his wife a lie

Oh mother, oh, dear mother
I'll tell you if I can
If you ever see me coming back
It'll be with the gambling man, be with the gambling man
It'll be with the gambling man

I am a roving gambler
I've gambled all around
And wherever I see a deck of cards
I lay my money down, lay my money down
I lay my money down
And wherever I see a deck of cards
I lay my money down, lay my money down
I lay my money down