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THE GAMBLING MAN (THE GUERRILLA MAN; THE JOURNEYMAN) Sung by: Almeda Riddle Recorded in Miller, AR, 6/25/53 Click here to listen to the original recording And a-parts of Tennessee, And the gambling man I never did see That could hold it over me, That could hold it over me, That could hold it over me. The gambling man I never did see That could hold it over me. I've gambled on through Arkansas, Up into Springfield town, And when I'd meet with a gambling man I'd lay my money down, I'd lay my money down, I'd lay my money down. Whenever I'd meet with a gambling man, I'd lay my money down. I hadn't been in Springfield Many more weeks than three When I fell in love with a pretty little girl, And the girl in love with me. Oh, she fell in love with me; She fell in love with me. I fell in love with a pretty little girl, And the girl in love with me. She took me in her parlor And cooled me with her fan. She whispered low in her Mama's ear, "Oh, I love a gambling man. Lord, I love the gambling man; How I love the gambling man." She whispered low in her Mama's ear, "I love that gambling man." "Oh, daughter dear, my daughter dear, Why will you grieve me so? Would you leave your poor old Mama And with a gambler go? Would you with a gambler go; Would you with a gambler go? Would you leave your poor old Mama, And with a gambler go?" "Mama darling, Mama dear, You know I love you well; But the way I love that gambling man No human tongue can tell, No tongue could ever tell, No one could ever tell. The way I love that gambling man No human tongue can tell." "I'm going to quit this way of gambling, Going to marry that little wife. I'm a-going to quit gambling And settle down for life. I'll settle down for life, And marry my little wife. Going to quit this way of gambling And settle down for life. "I'll go to work for her, And I'll do what good I can. I'll make her ever bless the day She married a gambling man, She married a gambling man, She married a gambling man. I'll make that girl bless the day She married a gambling man." Also found in Randolph, Vol. IV, #835, "The Guerrilla Man"; Brown, Vol. III, #49, "The Journeyman." |
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All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |