I am a rovin' gambler,

voiceCollected by: James Ward Lee and Ralph E . Roberts for Mary Celestia Parler Transcribed by James Ward Lee Reel 241 Item 6 Sung by: Jim Maguire Fayetteville, Arkansas. July 30, 1958 Ralph E. Roberts Gamblin' Man I am a rovin' gambler, I gambled all around, Wherever I meet with a deck of cards, I lie my money down. I gambled down in Washintin, I hadn't been there many more weeks than three, Till I fell in love with a pretty little girl. And she fell in love with me. She took me in her parlor, And she cooled me with her fan, She whispered low in her mothers ear, I love this gamblin' man. Oh dear mother oh dear mother What makes you treat me so, To leave your dear old mother, And go with a gambler go. Oh dear mother oh dear mother, I'll tell you if I can, The love I have for a gamblin' man N o human's, tongue can tell.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation