The Gambler (song)
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| "The Gambler" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Kenny Rogers | |
| from the album The Gambler | |
| Released | November 15, 1978 |
| Format | Vinyl |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 3:32 |
| Label | United Artists |
| Writer(s) | Don Schlitz |
| Producer | Larry Butler |
"The Gambler" is the title track to Kenny Rogers' 1978 album The Gambler which won him the Grammy award for best male country vocal performance in 1980.[1] Bobby Bare had recorded the song earlier that same year in his album BARE CBS KC35314 (1978). The song was written by Don Schlitz who had recorded it previously, and had charted at #65 on the country charts with it. It was one of five consecutive songs by Rogers to hit #1 on the Billboard country music charts. On the pop chart, the song made #16 in early 1979.
It is also the theme song used for Rogers' long running movie and TV serial of the same name, in which he stars as a fictional professional poker player called Brady Hawkes. It was used in Episode 2 of BBC series Blackpool.
Contents |
[edit] Story
The song itself tells the story of a late-night meeting on a train "bound for nowhere" between Rogers (as narrator) and an unnamed old man who is the gambler. The gambler tells Rogers that he can tell Rogers is down on his luck ("out of aces") by the look in his eyes and offers him advice in exchange for the last swallow of whisky Rogers has. After the gambler takes the drink (and a cigarette), he gives the following advice:
| “ | You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away, know when to run |
” |
The gambler then mentions that the "secret to survivin' is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep" and that "the best you can hope for is to die in your sleep". At this point, the gambler puts out the cigarette and goes to sleep.
At the end of the song we are told that "somewhere in the darkness the gambler he broke even", and that the narrator finds "an ace that I could keep" in his final words. Some have interpreted this as the Gambler actually dying, confirmed by Rogers' rendition on the Muppet Show (see below).
[edit] Analysis
The song is often characterized as a metaphor for life in that you need to know when to stand your ground (when to hold 'em) and when to retreat (when to fold 'em). The gambler has learned that the trick to life isn't the cards you've been dealt, but how to play them (every hand being a "winner" or a "loser" depending on how they are played). The "ace" that Rogers refers to in the end is this advice.
[edit] Performances
When Rogers appeared on The Muppet Show (episode 410, available on volume 11 of The Best of The Muppet Show home video series), "The Gambler" was brought to life, with Rogers performing in a mock-up of a passenger train interior, alongside a semi-realistic Muppet of an elderly man in the role of the Gambler. In this performance, the Gambler Muppet sang the first chorus, depicting the Gambler dispensing his advice to Rogers. In the finale, the Gambler reappeared as a ghost to join Rogers for the final sing along.
The song was also performed on the TV sitcom, Perfect Strangers.
The song was performed on "Beach Games" the twenty-second episode of the third season of the US version of The Office, and is the 50th episode aired of the show. Toward the end of the episode the characters of the show start to sing the song on a bus ride. The singing was started by Kevin who also happens to have an extreme gambling addiction.
This song was also covered by Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans. It does not appear on any of their albums but is played live from time to time. The song is also covered by Wyclef Jean, although with a revised chorus; the song features Kenny Rogers himself.
Professional wrestler The Rock sang a rendition on Raw in November 2001 in response to Stone Cold Steve Austin's rendition of "Delta Dawn", as did Trevor Murdoch in 2008 at the behest of his tag team partner Lance Cade, before he attacked him and broke up the group.[2]
In the song "Mainfesto (Outro)" from album The Score, Fugees rapper Pras sings "you gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" before beginning his verse.
The Smashing Pumpkins also released a cover of the song in their Live Smashing Pumpkins album series.
[edit] In Popular Culture
The first two lines of the chorus are used in The Order of the Stick webcomic as time-honored advice, given to Haley Starshine from her father, and repeated during the attack on the Azure City.[3] Kenny Rogers, the baseball player, has the nickname "The Gambler", named because he bears the same name as the country singer.
In the popular web-comic Penny Arcade, the main character Gabe often states his fondness for "The Gambler" and Kenny Rogers in general, to the point of becoming a hobo after hearing "The Gambler".
"The Gambler" appears on the Rock Band Country Track Pack and has been confirmed as upcoming downloadable content for the Rock Band series.
In the movie Muppets from Space, the King prawn character, Pepe, recites the first line from the chorus as he's bringing in breakfast to the rest of the Muppet gang, a reference to the previous Muppets video with Rogers.
A popular casino slot machine, endorsed by Kenny Rogers, has The Gambler as its theme.
In King of the Hill, The Gambler is Hank Hill's favorite song.
[edit] References
- ^ Reader's digest almanac and yearbook, 1981, p. 274
- ^ "May 12, 2008". Raw Results. Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_080512/. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ "The Order of the Stick". The Order of the Stick number 467. Giant in the Playground Games. http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0467.html. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
| Preceded by "On My Knees" by Charlie Rich and Janie Fricke |
Billboard Hot Country Singles number one single December 16-December 30, 1978 |
Succeeded by "Tulsa Time" by Don Williams |
