Posted by Ellis Shuman, January 6, 2014
Recently we posted a question on our Facebook page, asking our followers for their opinion on a very important question, central to any poker player's heart. We asked, 'What is your favorite poker song of all time?'
Gambling Songs
Despite becoming a cliche from time to time, gambling idioms remain relevant because of their comfortable familiarity. Here are 15 of the greatest gambling songs in country music. Every mood is associated with various genres of song, like love, relationship, and betting!
Let's consider what poker songs have made their way into our culture, through films, television shows, and the mass-market music industry. Listed below is our all-time poker songlist. Did we miss something?
1) Let's start with a classic song, 'The Gambler', written by Don Schlitz and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. 'The Gambler' was released in November 1978 and won Rogers the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1980.
'You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away, know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table,
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.'
2) 'Poker Face' by American recording artist and songwriter Lady Gaga is a song from her debut album, The Fame (2008). The song went viral, attaining worldwide success. Do you have a poker face when you play cash games and tournaments?
'I wanna hold em like they do in Texas please
Fold em let em hit me raise it baby stay with me, I love it
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart'
3) The song 'Losing Hand' was included on Ray Charles's 1957 debut album for Atlantic Records. The album was re-released in 1962.
'I thought I'd be your king baby, yes and you could be my queen
I thought I'd be your king baby, yes and you could be my queen
But you used me for your joker ´cause I thought you're deal was clean'
4) The British heavy metal band Motorhead released its fourth album, 'Ace of Spades', in November 1980. The title track of the same name debuted in October of that year, peaking on the UK singles chart at number 15.
'If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man,
You win some, lose some, all the same to me,
The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say,
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades'
5) The song 'Deal' was first performed by the Grateful Dead in February 1971. 'Deal' was also played frequently by the Jerry Garcia Band.
'Since it costs a lot to win, and even more to lose,
You and me bound to spend some time wond'rin' what to choose.
Goes to show, you don't ever know,
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round,
Don't you let that deal go down, no, no.'
6) Did you know that songwriter/singer Leonard Cohen has a song about poker? Listen to his song, 'The Stranger Song', included on his debut album in 1967.
'You hate to watch another tired man
Lay down his hand
Like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
You notice there's a highway
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
It's curling up like smoke above his shoulder.'
'I wanna hold em like they do in Texas please
Fold em let em hit me raise it baby stay with me, I love it
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart'
3) The song 'Losing Hand' was included on Ray Charles's 1957 debut album for Atlantic Records. The album was re-released in 1962.
'I thought I'd be your king baby, yes and you could be my queen
I thought I'd be your king baby, yes and you could be my queen
But you used me for your joker ´cause I thought you're deal was clean'
4) The British heavy metal band Motorhead released its fourth album, 'Ace of Spades', in November 1980. The title track of the same name debuted in October of that year, peaking on the UK singles chart at number 15.
'If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man,
You win some, lose some, all the same to me,
The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say,
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades'
5) The song 'Deal' was first performed by the Grateful Dead in February 1971. 'Deal' was also played frequently by the Jerry Garcia Band.
'Since it costs a lot to win, and even more to lose,
You and me bound to spend some time wond'rin' what to choose.
Goes to show, you don't ever know,
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round,
Don't you let that deal go down, no, no.'
6) Did you know that songwriter/singer Leonard Cohen has a song about poker? Listen to his song, 'The Stranger Song', included on his debut album in 1967.
'You hate to watch another tired man
Lay down his hand
Like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
You notice there's a highway
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
It's curling up like smoke above his shoulder.'
7) Australian hard rock band AC/DC recorded 'She's Got the Jack' (sometimes called simply 'The Jack') in its second studio album, released in December, 1975.
'Poker face was her name
Poker face was her nature
Poker straight was her game
If she knew she could get you'
8) The song 'No Cheap Thrill' was included in the album 'Nine Objects of Desire', released by Suzanne Vega in September, 1996.
'I'll see you, I'll call you, I'll raise you
But it's no cheap thrill
It will cost you, cost you, cost you
Anything you have to pay.'
9) American rock band O.A.R. (short for Of a Revolution), recorded the song 'That Was a Crazy Game of Poker' on its debut album in 1997, and it became a staple performed at all of the group's live shows.
'That was a crazy game of poker
I lost it all
But someday I'll be back again
And I'm never to fall
Never to fall'
10) 'Lonesome Loser' was recorded by Little River Band, an Australian rock band formed in 1975.
Best Gambling Songs Of All Time
'Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Beaten by the queen of hearts every time
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
He's a loser, but he still keeps on tryin'
11) And here's an extra treat = Lonnie Donegan singing 'Gamblin' Man', his 1957 hit that was 19 weeks on the charts, including 2 weeks at the number one spot. Aruba casinos reviews.
Planet 7 mobile. 'I'm a gamblin' man, man, man
A gamblin' man, man, man
I'm a gamblin' man, man, man
I'm a gamblin' man'
Best Gaming Songs Ncs
Lesser Known Poker Songs
** Go Down Gamblin' by Blood, Sweat & Tears
'Raised on brew and poker / And a dollar here and there.'
Gambling Music
** The Devil Plays Poker - You me at Six Skrillex remix
** Liquor in the Front, Poker in the Rear
** Roving Gambler
Casino Song List
Comment below and let us know what is your favorite poker song!
