I am a roving gambler
I've gambled all around
When ever I meet with a deck of cards
I lay my money down
I've gambled down in Washington
I've gambled over in Spain
I'm going back to Portland
To gamble my last game
Had an Uncle Bill in Portland
Many more weeks but three
I fell in love with a pretty little girl
She fell in love with me
She took me to her parlor
Cooled me with a fan
Whispered low in her mother's ear
I'm in love with a gambling man
Tell me my dear daughter
How can you treat me so?
Save your poor old mother
And with the gambler drove
Mother oh dear Mother
I'll tell you if I can
If you ever see me coming back
It'll be with a gambling man
I am a roving gambler
I've gambled all around
When ever I met with a deck of cards
I laid my money down
I've gambled down in Washington
I've gambled over in Spain
I'm going back to Portland
To gamble my last game
The earlier version by the Hart Valley Drifters is:
I am a roving gambler
I've gambled all around
Wherever I meet with a deck of cards
I lay my money down
Lay my money down, lay my money down
Had not been in [Frisco]
Many more weeks but three
When I fell in love with a pretty girl
And she fell in love with me
Fell in love with me, fell in love with me
She took me to her parlor
Cooled me with a fan
Whispered low in her mother's ear
I love that gambling man
Love that gambling man, love that gambling man
Oh daughter, oh dear daughter
How can you treat me so
To leave your dear old mother
And with a gambling man go
With a gambling man go, with a gambling man go
Oh mother, oh dear mother
I'll tell you if I can
If you ever see me coming back
It'll be with a gambling man
With a gambling man, with a gambling man
I hear a train a-coming
Coming round the curve
Whistling and a-blowing
And straining every nerve
Straining every nerve, straining every nerve
I am a roving gambler
I've gambled all around
Wherever I meet with a deck of cards
I lay my money down
Lay my money down, lay my money down