When it comes to song lyrics there’s no doubt that love and heartbreak in all of their forms lead the way. These also cross all of the genres from rock to pop and rap to reggae music.
But there’s another topic that also pops up far more often than you might imagine and that’s gambling. Gambling has grown in popularity across the world as many now opt to play at online casinos as countries begin to relax their laws around gambling.
Admittedly sometimes the gambling songs merge with songs about romance. After all, love is a matter of faith and trust just like gambling is.
Some of these songs are already very well-known including Ace of Spades by the inimitable Motorhead and the daddy of them all, The Gambler by Kenny Rogers.
There’s also a huge back catalogue of more obscure songs from big name artists that may have been buried deep in the B-sides of their vinyl output or included as extras in the era of CDs. No doubt there also many more hidden away on streaming platforms.
So here are seven songs that have gambling as their theme – including some pretty big surprises.
The Card Cheat by The Clash
London Calling was an album that represented the true coming of age of one of the UK’s first ever punk bands, The Clash. The title track has been used in countless movies and TV shows but it’s this gem from the very end of Side 2 of the album that shows off the band’s darker side. The lyrics concern a player who hides a card up his sleeve hoping to beat the house. However, the dealer soon discovers this – with very grim consequences for the cheat.
Deal by Grateful Dead
Jerry Garcia was a man who certainly knew all about living on the wilder side of life. But, if anything, this is a song that advises on the wisdom of taking a more cautious approach. A key lyric in the song is “since it costs a lot to win and even more to lose, you and me are bound to spend some time wondering what to choose.” This then moves through to the sober conclusion that it may be best not to play at all.
Deuces Are Wild by Aerosmith
Here’s a song about the lucky breaks that real players can get either in life or when there’s money to be won. Steven Tyler sings with real conviction about the sort of poker game where twos are wild – and compares this with the luck he’s having with the lady he’s pursuing. The poker analogy runs on in the song when he wittily points out that they’re also two of a kind.
The Fix by Elbow
Manchester-based band Elbow performed in relative obscurity before being shot to fame in 2008 when their album The Seldom Seen Kid scooped the prestigious Mercury Prize. The song concerns plans to fix a horse race and then to live a life of luxury on the ill-gotten winnings – even the horse in question will be rewarded with a field in the Tuscan hills. The lyrics are ingenious, the melody is unbelievably catchy – but we never do find out if the fix comes off in the end.
The Jack by AC DC
Few bands rock quite as hard as Angus and the boys from AC DC, even if he’s still wearing his school uniform at the ripe old age of 69. It’s another song that takes a cards analogy to describe a relationship concerning what poet W.B Yeats described as “the foul rag and bone shop of the heart”. Interestingly, when the band perform the song today they’ve switched many of the lyrics to move away from poker to be rather more explicit.
Ace In The Hole by Saint Motel
Here’s a song where the narrator realises that it’s his only chance to make a big impression on the drop-dead gorgeous woman of his dreams. No ordinary chat-up lines will do. This needs to be totally spectacular. Luckily he has the ace in the hole that’s going to work its magic. Then, just when we’re about to discover what this magical and transformative line or action’s going to be the song abruptly ends. So I guess we’ll never know.
Still The Same by Bob Seger
Back in 1978 Bob Seger sang this song about bumping into an old acquaintance who was a professional gambler. On the surface he seems confident, successful and fulfilled, living his best life.
Digging a little deeper, Seger reveals that the skills of bluffing and deception his friend says make him so successful are being used for a more underhand purpose. Namely, to bluff and pretend he’s doing well when the opposite is the case.
So there you have them. Seven great songs that have gambling as their theme. The chances are you may have heard of some of them – but odds-on that most will be new to you
