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9 pre-2000 Songs about Gambling

You have surely learnt Lady Gaga’s Poker Face by heart, but what about songs about casinos and gambling that were written in the last century? Read on to rediscover some familiar tunes that will make your online gambling experience a real fun!

Casino has long been a metaphor for gambling in life – or in love. The Gambler, Solitaire, Poker Face have featured in hundreds of songs, some of which are played in the background in many venues. So, when you go to sites like 5 dimes, why not put on one of these tunes and experience the real Las Vegas?! You have surely listened to Kenny Rogers, Katie Perry, and Lagy Gaga, so we’ve listed some popular “oldies” on the subject, with brief notes on release and content.

1948 – Tex Ritter, The Deck of Cards

Ever thought that cards and the Bible had nothing in common? The protagonist of the song, a soldier in the American army in the middle of North African nowhere, explains to the court martial that each card bears a specific meaning: 3 is Trinity, the Jack is Satan, the King is Jesus, and the Queen is Mary. He is being charged with blasphemy because he allegedly spread his deck of cards in the church during the service. Yet in his mind, this deck is his Bible, and he swears by it.

1957 – Ray Charles, Losing Hand

Somehow most songs, films, and even novels about gambling are centered upon a loss. Apparently, no society was eager to praise successful bettors. And even love as a gamble had better be sour. So the lyrical hero of Ray Charles is abandoned by his lady, and he’s got “a losing hand”. The bad luck does not crush his spirit, though, and he carries on living with hope and good faith.

1963 – Elvis Presley, Viva Las Vegas

Las Vegas was Elvis’s own paradise: he even tied the knot there a few times! This rock-n-roll song with a catchy tune is one of all-time best musical commercials for Sin City. Back in Presley’s time, Las Vegas was all about vibrant nightlife, excellent clubs and casinos, and, of course, pretty women – and so it remains!

1967 – B.B. King, Gambler’s Luck

By the 1960s, the comparison of love and gamble had firmly settled in the realm of popular songs. B.B. King’s blues hit was perfect to ponder the changing fate of a lover: his lady lures him into the affair only to walk away and leave him with a broken heart. King remains upbeat, though: one lady goes, another comes, and there will be a day when he plays his cards right!

1973 – The Eagles – Desperado

Even seasoned gamblers got the blues. So, one “desperado” (“a desperate one” in Spanish) realizes that sitting on the fence and waiting idly for the luck to change is getting him nowhere. The Queen of Diamonds will beat him “if she’s able”, so his best bet is the Queen of Hearts. “You’d better let somebody love you before it’s too late” is a perfect reminder of the passage of life that cannot be all about casino rowing.

1975 – AC/DC, The Jack

Gambling, and especially poker, is not just about forlorn love. In AC/DC’s big hit, it is a pool of carnal passion where a King and a Queen dive in rather willingly. Even back in 1975 a line “her deuce was wild but my ace was high” did not sound like it was about gambling. In the years since, however, the band has practically stripped the song off its poker references and made it overtly sexual. Never mind, we never thought casino betting was innocent anyway.

1980 – ABBA, The Winner Takes It All

One of the best pop songs ever, this number takes lovers to a casino where the gods throw a dice to decide the lovers’ fate. “Their mind’s as cold as ice” while people “down there are losing someone dear”. It is a known fact that ABBA’s personal relationships were documented in their songs, so the palpable feeling of heartache owes not only to poignant music and dramatic vocals, but to the real-life drama expressed in the song.

1983 – Billy Joel, Easy Money

Lest we forget why people actually flock to casinos, Billy Joel reminds us: easy money it is! Traditional hard work for guaranteed peanuts pales in comparison to a quick whacking win at a casino. Still, Joel doesn’t seem to advocate betting as a full-time job; rather he relishes the moments when making a lot of money takes seconds, not days.

1993 – Sting, Shape of My Heart

Pondering card playing as a meditation on the meaning of life, Sting has created a poignant and beautiful ballad that seamlessly brings us back to 1948’s Deck of Cards. Neither protagonist is a mere gambler – they are both looking for something bigger: “the shape of my heart”.

There are many more songs written about casinos and betting. We hope you will enjoy our selection!

 
 
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