Roving Gambler (Version 1, handwritten, key of E, with tab)
Public domain - full karaoke IMMHA-L386
Credit: Traditional · traditional
Origin: Traditional American ballad (Laws H4, Roud 498), recorded by Vernon Dalhart in the 1920s and others; author unknown, public domain. Version 1 of 2: handwritten in blue ink (cursive) with chords, 4/4 time, key of E, 'Traditional', with a tab staff at the bottom. Written as 'chain.,'.
Source: https://balladindex.org/Ballads/LH04.html
Lyrics sheet: courtesy of Country Roads Folk Music Camp, Mount Madonna County Park, California (about the camp)
Original scan: from John's songbook (scan to be posted on @IMMHACAL)
Chords as printed on the original song sheet. Only E is marked on the sheet at the start of each verse. The tab staff is not transcribed.
E I am a roving gambler, I've gambled all around Whenever I see a deck of cards I lay my money down, I lay my money down, I lay my money down. E I had not been in New York town many more weeks than three, 'Til I fell in love with a pretty little gal and she fell in love with me. E She took me in her parlour and she cooled me with her fan And she whispered low in her mother's ear, I love that gamblin' man, I love that gamblin' man, I love that gamblin' man. E Oh daughter, Oh dear daughter, how can you treat me so, To leave your dear old mother, and with a gambler go? E Oh mother, oh dear mother, you know I love you well, But the love I have for the gamblin' man no human tongue can tell No human tongue can tell, no human tongue can tell E I wouldn't marry a farmer for he's always in the rain, All I want is the gamblin' man who wears the big gold chain., Who wears the big gold chain, wears the big gold chain. I hear the train a-comin', a-comin' round the curve a-whistlin' and a-strainin', a-strainin' every nerve. E Oh mother, Oh dear mother, I'll tell you if I can If you ever see me comin' back, it'll be with the gamblin' man, It'll be with the gamblin' man, it'll be with the gamblin' man. Repeat first verse.