I am a rovin' gambler--
I've gambled all around--
And wherever I see a deck of ca-a-ards
I lay my money down
Lay my money down
I lay my money down

I've gambled down in Washington
Ga-ambled up in Maine;
I'm headed down to Tenessee-ee-ee
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 than three
When I fell in love with a pretty little ga-a-al
And she fell in love with me
Fell in love with me
She fell in love with me

She took me to her parlor;
She cooled me with her fan;
She whispered in her mother's e-e-ear
"I love that gamblin' man
Love that gamblin' man
I love that gamblin' man
"I wouldn't marry a railroad man;
This is the reason why:
I've never seen a railroad ma-a-an
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 comin' ba-a-ack
It'll be with a gamblin' man
Be with a gamblin' man
It'll be with a gamblin' man."

I am a rovin' gambler--
I've gambled all around--
And wherever I see a deck of ca-a-ards
I lay my money down
Lay my money down
I lay my money down
And wherever I see a deck of ca-a-ards
I lay my money down
Lay my money down
Lay my money down