[Verse 1]
I am a roving gambler, I gambled all around
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards, lay my money down
Lay my money down, lay my money down

[Verse 2]
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

[Verse 3]
She took me in her parlor, she cooled me with her fan
She whispered low in her mother's ears, "I love that gambling man"
Love that gambling man, love that gambling man

[Verse 4]
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

[Verse 5]
My mother, oh, dear mother, you cannot understand
If you ever see me coming back, I'll be with the gambling man
With that gambling man, with that gambling man

[Verse 5]
I left her in El Paso and I wound up in Maine
I met up with the gambling man, got in a poker game
Got in a poker game, got in a poker game
[Verse 6]
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

[Verse 7]
Well, now I'm in the jailhouse, got a number for my name
Warden said as he locked the door, "You gambled your last game"
Gambled your last game, gambled your last game

[Outro]
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