Luck Be a Daly Tonight: Best Gambling Songs

I don't leave for Vegas until Saturday -- but I've been short-timing all week. In lieu of grinding out my usual hardcore journalism, I've been studying up on gambling tips. "Always split aces and 8s." Got it. "Always bet on black." Check. "The croupier is flirting with you because you've lost $100 in three minutes." Gotcha. "Plus I'm pretty sure she's a dude." Cool.

Thanks to my well-connected, possibly mafiosan editor, the FF and I scored choice tix to the "LOVE" show at the Mirage. We also have reservations at a swanky joint at the Venetian called Postrio. Sure, a cup of potato-leek soups costs, like, a Hyundai. But the memories I'll have of vomiting it up in a strip joint later that night will last a lifetime.

Anyway, in the spirit of my impending winning streak, here are a few songs about gamblers, high rollers, winners, losers and lords of the buffet:

1) Roll of the Dice -- Bruce Springsteen
2) Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House -- Garth Brooks
3) Crapped Out Again -- Keb Mo
4) Queen of Hearts -- Juice Newton
5) Stagger Lee -- Lloyd Price
6) Viva Las Vegas -- ZZ Top
7) Ramblin' Gamblin' Willie -- Bob Dylan
8) The Gambler -- Kenny Rogers
9) Atlantic City -- Bruce Springsteen
10) The Turn of a Friendly Card -- Alan Parsons Project
11) Roll the Bones -- Rush
12) Lucky Town -- Bruce Springsteen

Comments

[Uncle Crappy]

Robert Hunter, who was Jerry Garcia's lyricist, loved throwing gambling references into his songs, so the Dead's catalogue is full of 'em:

"Loser:" If I had a gun for every ace I've drawn/I could arm a town the size of Abilene

"Deal:" I've been gambling hereabouts/For ten good solid years/If I told you all that went down/It would burn off both your ears

"Dire Wolf:" The Wolf came in, I got my cards/We sat down for a game/I cut my deck to the Queen of Spades/But the cards were all the same

And then there's "Me and My Uncle," which is probably the tune the Dead performed more than any other in its 30-year history. It was written by John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, although he didn't recall its creation. At some point in the mid-sixties, Phillips started getting royalty checks in the mail from Judy Collins' record company. He asked Collins about the money, and she reminded him of a night they spent drinking with Neil Young a few years prior. After drinking a little tequila -- or, uh, maybe a lot -- Phillips made up the song on the spot, recording it into a running cassette player:

West Texas cowboys, they's all around/With liquor and money, they're loaded down/So soon after pay day, you know it seemed a shame/You know my uncle, he starts a friendly game/Hi-lo jacks and the winner take the hand

My only advice for the Vegas trip? If you see Pacman Jones anywhere, immediately run the other way.

Have fun...

[Guy]

Let's Go to Vegas - Faith Hill, although it's about getting hitched, not gambling.

[Sean Daly]

Hmm, getting hitched, huh? That might come in handy...

...but probably not.

[t odell]

well, i am so glad you guys are going to LOVE. You will go crazy over it. I would see it again & again & I dont say that about anything! The best tip I can give you for blackjack is to always assume the dealer has a face card & if they have a 2-6 showing, you need to "stay" when you have a 12 or above.....
Are you going to get the marriage license beforehand, just in case???

[Walter Cox]

What about "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man"?

[Ron]

Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold, by the late, great Townes Van Zandt