GAMBLIN' MAN
(Woody Guthrie / arr. Donegan)
Lonnie Donegan - 1957


I've gambled down in Washington 
And I've gambled up in Maine 
I'm going down into Georgia 
To knock down my last game 
I'm a gamblin' man man man 
I'm a gamblin' man 

Well I'd not been in Washington 
Many more weeks than three 
When I fell in love with a pretty little girl 
And she fell in love with me 
I'm a gamblin' man 
I'm a gamblin' man 

I'm a gamblin' man man man 
I'm a gamblin' man man man 
I'm a gamblin' man man man 
I'm a gamblin' man 

I'm a gamblin' man man man 
I'm a gamblin' man man man 
I'm a gamblin' man man man 
I'm a gamblin' man 

She took me in her parlour 
Cooled me with her fan 
She said oh mother, mother 
I'm in love with a gamblin' man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

She said oh daughter, daughter 
How could you treat me so 
Leave your poor old mother 
With that gambler go 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
A gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

I would not marry a farmer 
He's always in the rain 
I'd rather marry a gamblin' man 
With a gold watch and chain 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

And I'd never marry a railroad man 
Here's the reason why 
I've never known a railroad man 
Wouldn't tell his wife a life 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

How about Jimmy 

He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man 

How about 

I hear that train a-coming 
A-coming round the curve 
Whistling, a-screaming 
straining every nerve 
He's a gamblin' man man man 
He's a gamblin' man.