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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

Written by Don Schlitz, this is a story told from the first-person perspective about a conversation with an old poker player on a train. The card shark gives life advice to the narrator in the form of poker metaphors, before dying in his sleep.

This song spawned the poker catchphrase, "Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em." (thanks, Andy - Arlington, VA, for above 2)

A 1979 made-for-TV movie called The Gambler, which was inspired by this song, became the biggest rated TV film of the year and spawned several other movies. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

This entered the UK charts for the first time in 2007 after being popularised by the England Rugby team. During the Rugby World Cup the prop forward Matt Stevens warmed up for games by performing the song in the dressing room on his guitar and the England team subsequently adopted it as an unofficial anthem during their successful run to final of the tournament. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

Learn more about the evolution of Poker in Song Images.

Comments:

This song is played/ sung on the Hit TV show King of The Hill not once but twice!
- Hank Dahling, Fort Wayne , IN

Just great one regardless of its meaning as of poker or life. cuts both ways.
- Pep, Mexico, Mexico

I know this is a poker anthem, but this song is not about poker; it is about life. The bridge is the thematic part of the song. It is saying none of us were dealt winner of loser lives. Our lives are what we make of them. You have to know what and who to throw away and what and who to keep. You have to know when to go for it, when to fold, when to walk away, and when to run. Classic song with a great message.
- Shawn, Green Bay, WI

I didn't know The Gambler died in his sleep.that's the way to go in your sleep.One of my favorite songs! It was used in the Muppet show,I want all seasons of The Muppet show,Kenny Rogers,Star Wars,Lynda Carter,Cheryl Ladd,and Christopher Reeve.
- Jennifer Harris, Grand Blanc, MI

What a great song to put on the duke box in the pub. A real drinking ditty. P.S. Guy, they don't 'hurry' the last bar, it's a syncopation which I don't think works as well recorded as it would in a live performance.
- Dean, Sydney,

One of my dad's friends sings this everytime there's karaoke at a cookout or party and it got me addicted to this song. I'm not a big country fan or a big Kenny Rogers fan, but I love this song. I'm 18 and I sing it every time I play poker w/ my friends and they just stare at me.
- Scott, Boston, MA

This song is the reason I started playing poker about 25 years ago. I was a very impressionable 6 yr old
- Jeff, Austin, TX

Only compared to a few songs in my walk down Memory Lane...in my Grampa's car which I was in near every day, he would play that too often, and whenever we played cards together. The metaphors in this mean nothing to me-just the beat, the sound and the good memories. Every time I hear this song I just stop what I'm doing and listen.
- Josh, Toronto

Fun story song. Replete with evey poker metaphor on earth. Still, kind fun & catchy.
- Guy, Woodinville, WA

Weird how they hurry the dialog on the very last phrase.
- Guy, Woodinville, WA