I’ve been busy this morning painting myself in and out of corners for Wednesday’s 13th Ward Rambler column at the Bayou Brief. Shorter Adrastos: I’m all written out for the day.
One thing I write about is my concern over the premature spiking of the pandemic ball. People are acting like the crisis is over. They’re wrong. I’m not gambling with my life. Instead, I’m posting a few gambling songs as part of the Songs For The Pandemic series.
Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter was an avid user of poker analogies in his lyrics. We begin with two of his finest creations; both performed live on Halloween in 1980.
Dr. John’s contribution to the Deadicated album was a swell interpretation of Deal. It was made for Mac’s voice:
The great Dave Alvin covered Loser on his album of songs by California songwriters, West Of The West:
The Allman Brothers were on the skids in 1975 when they recorded the Win Lose or Draw album. They broke up for the first time not long after recording it. The title track is not about gambling per se, but its bleakness makes it a tune for our times:
Now that we’ve gone to prison with the Allman Brothers, let’s close on a more upbeat note with a gambling song written in 1950 by Frank Loesser for Guys and Dolls. It later became the property of the Chariman of the Board:
No “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers?
Not a Kenny Rogers fan. He had nice hair though.
Pretty obvious, anyway. I liked the beard better.
I’d add “Lily, Rosemary, and the Queen of Hearts”:
“The hangin’ judge came in unnoticed and was being wined and dined
The drillin’ in the wall kept up but no one seemed to pay it any mind”
…but that would make it my list. Yours is quite fine.
I was at that GD Halloween concert. Everyone was in costume. What a great show!