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.