Gambling is a pastime that has stretched back as far as human history can recount. There is written evidence that it was practiced in the civilizations of ancient China, Greece and Rome, while it’s highly possible that it was a popular activity even before these documented instances.
As such, it’s only logical that humans have sought to express the outpouring of their emotions on the subject via the medium of song. Over the course of the last few decades, some incredible melodies and some stirring lyrics have been penned on the topic, so we’ve picked our four favorite songs about gambling for your reading pleasure below. These are sure to get you in the mood for a flutter!
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The Gambler’ – Kenny Rogers
It’s all well and good learning the rules of a game before you begin betting on it, but there are some lessons you only absorb by experience. Kenny Rogers’ unforgettable classic – aptly titled ‘The Gambler’ – perfectly encapsulates that idea with the lines: “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run”. Timing is everything in many aspects of life and gambling is no different, so budding players would do well to heed the words of the great man and stop while the going’s good.
‘Ace of Spades’ – Motorhead
For sheer energy and enthusiasm, you can’t beat Motorhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’. This 1980 hit is a stone-cold classic and is the ideal song to get you all fired up and ready to sweep aside the competition at poker, rummy or whatever your game of choice might be. Even if you don’t win the day, you can certainly identify with the lines: “You know I’m born to lose, and gambling’s for fools, but that’s the way I like it baby, I don’t wanna live forever – and don’t forget the joker!”
‘Viva Las Vegas’ – Elvis Presley
We challenge you to listen to the 1964 song ‘Viva Las Vegas’, written and recorded by none other than the king of rock and roll himself, Elvis Presley, and not get a hankering for a casino environment. There’s something about the bounciness of the chorus and the infectious optimism of Elvis’s vocals which can’t fail to bring to mind the glitz and glamour of the Strip – so why not soundtrack your next session of online slots to this great tune and pretend you’re there in the flesh?
‘The Winner Takes It All’ – ABBA
Okay, so ‘The Winner Takes It All’ was written by Bjorn Ulvaeus and sang by Agnetha Faltskog in the aftermath of their divorce, and the lyrics largely pertain to the tumultuous nature of their relationship. However, it’s heavily loaded with gambling terminology and its emotive lyrics work will resonate just as effectively with someone unlucky at cards as they are at love. “So the winner takes it all, and the loser has to fall, throw a dice, cold as ice, way down here, someone dear, takes it all, has to fall.”
Whether it’s a song to motivate you before your next session or celebrate with after your last win, there are plenty of excellent gambling songs for any occasion.
