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P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face (mum-mum-mum-mah) I wanna roll with him, a hard pair we will be (hey) A little gamblin' is fun when you're with me (I love it) Russian roulette is not the same without a gun. And baby, when it's love, if it's not rough, it isn't fun (fun) Oh, whoa, oh, oh. Play like poker, money like a broker Yeah, check out my new Prada loafers Yeah I might ghost her, I don't really know her But she know me, 'cause I'm lit like a stoner Play like poker, money like.
Steve Selbrede
I had been researching an article about poker songs when I heard about Martin Harris' excellent new book, Poker & Pop Culture in which appears a chapter entitled 'Poker in Music.' I abandoned my article for a while, then I realized there is another approach to the subject. Instead of talking about the history of poker in music, I can talk about how music can inspire how we play poker.
Of course, just because a song has a poker reference, that doesn't mean the song is any good. Indeed, most 'poker songs' are only tangentially about poker, so the quality of the song is paramount. So my primary requirement when compiling the list of songs that appear below was that the song must be a good one. (I also wanted you to be able to check out the song easily, so I've included hyperlinks.)
Be advised that this article is tongue-in-check in some places. Don't deluge me with comments about how these songs are not all 'about' poker — they are all 'poker songs' for me.
Kenny Rogers, 'The Gambler'
This is perhaps the most famous song about poker, and it's a good one. Recorded by Kenny Rogers in 1978, the song that taught listeners 'to know when to hold 'em [and] know when to fold 'em' has become iconic in popular culture, as Harris points out in his book. This song was a number one hit on the country chart and won Rogers a Grammy award for best country vocal performance in 1980. Perhaps his most interesting performance of the song was on The Muppet Show, where the gambler dies in his sleep after he broke even. What a way to go.
Song About Poker
Ennio Morricone, 'The Ecstasy of Gold (Bandini Remix)'
Although you might not know it by the title, this might well be the second most famous 'poker song,' especially if you have ever played at the World Series of Poker as it is the intro music for every event. Actually entitled 'L'Estasi Dell'ora,' this music first appeared in the 1966 Clint Eastwood movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Spin it rich app. , the title of which provides another phrase I often apply to poker. I find the version performed by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra to be especially interesting.
O.A.R., 'That Was A Crazy Game of Poker'
Released in 2000 on The Wanderer album, this is one of a few great poker songs that is actually about poker. Inspired by Stephen King's novel The Stand, the song is about an epic card game with the devil. The lyrics include phrases like 'well Johnny doubled up with a royal flush, I had three jacks and a pair of nines' and 'gotta throw it all down and kiss it goodbye.' The Hero ultimately loses everything, but the devil couldn't convince him to give up his soul.
The Eagles, 'Desperado'
Released in 1973, 'Desperado' is not usually considered a poker song. But its lyrics do seem to evoke a poker game: 'Don't you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy, she'll beat you if she's able,' sings Don Henley. 'You know the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet. Now it seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table, but you only want the ones that you can't get.'
The Alan Parsons Project, 'The Turn of a Friendly Card'
Released in 1980, this concept album also included 'Games People Play' and 'Time' and centers around the temptations of gambling. Lyrics include 'but the game never ends when your whole world depends on the turn of a friendly card.'
Joe Bonamassa, 'Just 'Cos You Can Don't Mean You Should'
Joe Bonamassa is one of the world's greatest blues guitarist, and this video should convince you of that. Released in 2018 on the album Redemption, the song is clearly about shoving our short stack with a Game Theory Optimal range.
Joe Bonamassa, 'Just Got Paid'
More proof that Bonamassa is a great guitarist. 'Just Got Paid' was first recorded by ZZ Top in 1972, but the Bonamassa version is the definitive one for me. First released on the 2007 album Shepherds Bush Empire, the song could be said to promote thin value betting on the river.
Jamia Simone Cash, 'Raise it Up'
This remarkable gospel song is from the 2007 movie August Rush and features the voice of 11-year old Jamia Simone Cash. Among its other meanings, I like to think it extols the virtues of aggression in no-limit hold'em.
The Police, 'Every Breath You Take'
This great song was released in 1983 on the Synchronicity album. 'Every breath you take… every smile you fake… every claim you stake… I'll be watching you' all clearly refers to the importance of tells in poker.
Tommy Castro, 'All About the Cash'
Tommy Castro is a great blues-rock guitarist who has been recording since 1994. 'All About the Cash' was released in 2015 on his Method to My Madness album. This is my mantra when I am short stack near the bubble of a major live tournament.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'You Got Lucky'
Magic mirror merkur. Released in 1982 on the album Long After Dark, 'You Got Lucky' is no doubt about protecting our fragile egos when our opponent hits his two-outer on the river.
Lady Gaga, 'Poker Face'
Released in 2008 on her album The Fame,Lady Gaga's megahit reminds us of the importance of keeping a poker face without artificial aid like sunglasses and hoodies. 'I wanna hold 'em like they do it Texas plays,' she sings. 'Fold 'em, let 'em, hit me, raise… No, he can't read my poker face.'
Garth Brooks, 'Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House'
Released in 1991 on his album No Fences, 'Two of a Kind…' is a song about drawing to a full house on the river when our opponent has an obvious made flush. 'Yeah, she's my lady luck. Hey, I'm her wild card man. Together we're building up a real hot hand,' Brooks sings.
Eddy Clearwater, 'Hard Way to Make an Easy Living'
Eddy Clearwater was a native Mississippian steeped in the tradition of Chicago blues. I could not find a video of this song, but the link above will take you to a site where you can sample 30 seconds of this marvelous track from his 1996 album Mean Case of the Blues. Clearly, blues and poker have a lot in common.
Dan Fogelberg, 'There's a Place in the World for a Gambler'
Released in 1974 on the album Souvenirs, this is a song protesting the DOJ's attempt to outlaw internet poker. 'There's a place in the world for a gambler, there's a burden that only he can bear,' makes it clear how destructive the anti-poker lobby can be.
Conclusion
No doubt there are many other songs with which we can play this game. I hope you had as much fun watching these videos as I did tracking them down. What are some of your favorite 'poker songs' that aren't necessarily about poker but nonetheless describe how you approach the game?
Steve Selbrede is the author of six poker books: The Statistics of Poker, Beat the Donks, Donkey Poker Volume 1: Preflop, Donkey Poker Volume 2: Postflop, Donkey Poker Volume 3: Hand Reading, and Tournament Poker for the Rest of Us.
Tags
cash game strategytournament strategy
Posted by Ellis Shuman, January 6, 2014
Recently we posted a question on our Facebook page, asking our followers for their opinion on a very important question, central to any poker player's heart. We asked, 'What is your favorite poker song of all time?'
Let's consider what poker songs have made their way into our culture, through films, television shows, and the mass-market music industry. Listed below is our all-time poker songlist. Did we miss something?
1) Let's start with a classic song, 'The Gambler', written by Don Schlitz and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. 'The Gambler' was released in November 1978 and won Rogers the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1980.
'You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away, know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table,
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.'
Know when to walk away, know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table,
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.'
2) 'Poker Face' by American recording artist and songwriter Lady Gaga is a song from her debut album, The Fame (2008). The song went viral, attaining worldwide success. Do you have a poker face when you play cash games and tournaments?
'I wanna hold em like they do in Texas please
Fold em let em hit me raise it baby stay with me, I love it
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart'
Fold em let em hit me raise it baby stay with me, I love it
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart'
3) The song 'Losing Hand' was included on Ray Charles's 1957 debut album for Atlantic Records. Cleos vip room download. The album was re-released in 1962.
'I thought I'd be your king baby, yes and you could be my queen
I thought I'd be your king baby, yes and you could be my queen
But you used me for your joker ´cause I thought you're deal was clean'
I thought I'd be your king baby, yes and you could be my queen
But you used me for your joker ´cause I thought you're deal was clean'
4) The British heavy metal band Motorhead released its fourth album, 'Ace of Spades', in November 1980. The title track of the same name debuted in October of that year, peaking on the UK singles chart at number 15.
'If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man,
You win some, lose some, all the same to me,
The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say,
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades'
You win some, lose some, all the same to me,
The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say,
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades'
5) The song 'Deal' was first performed by the Grateful Dead in February 1971. 'Deal' was also played frequently by the Jerry Garcia Band.
'Since it costs a lot to win, and even more to lose,
You and me bound to spend some time wond'rin' what to choose.
Goes to show, you don't ever know,
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round,
Don't you let that deal go down, no, no.'
You and me bound to spend some time wond'rin' what to choose.
Goes to show, you don't ever know,
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round,
Don't you let that deal go down, no, no.'
6) Did you know that songwriter/singer Leonard Cohen has a song about poker? Listen to his song, 'The Stranger Song', included on his debut album in 1967.
'You hate to watch another tired man
Lay down his hand
Like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
You notice there's a highway
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
It's curling up like smoke above his shoulder.'
Lay down his hand
Like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
You notice there's a highway
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
It's curling up like smoke above his shoulder.'
7) Australian hard rock band AC/DC recorded 'She's Got the Jack' (sometimes called simply 'The Jack') in its second studio album, released in December, 1975.
'Poker face was her name
Poker face was her nature
Poker straight was her game
If she knew she could get you'
Poker face was her nature
Poker straight was her game
If she knew she could get you'
8) The song 'No Cheap Thrill' was included in the album 'Nine Objects of Desire', released by Suzanne Vega in September, 1996.
'I'll see you, I'll call you, I'll raise you
But it's no cheap thrill
It will cost you, cost you, cost you
Anything you have to pay.'
But it's no cheap thrill
It will cost you, cost you, cost you
Anything you have to pay.'
9) American rock band O.A.R. (short for Of a Revolution), recorded the song 'That Was a Crazy Game of Poker' on its debut album in 1997, and it became a staple performed at all of the group's live shows.
'That was a crazy game of poker
I lost it all
But someday I'll be back again
And I'm never to fall
Never to fall'
I lost it all
But someday I'll be back again
And I'm never to fall
Never to fall'
10) 'Lonesome Loser' was recorded by Little River Band, an Australian rock band formed in 1975.
'Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Beaten by the queen of hearts every time
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
He's a loser, but he still keeps on tryin'
Beaten by the queen of hearts every time
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
He's a loser, but he still keeps on tryin'
11) And here's an extra treat = Lonnie Donegan singing 'Gamblin' Man', his 1957 hit that was 19 weeks on the charts, including 2 weeks at the number one spot.
'I'm a gamblin' man, man, man
A gamblin' man, man, man
I'm a gamblin' man, man, man
I'm a gamblin' man'
A gamblin' man, man, man
I'm a gamblin' man, man, man
I'm a gamblin' man'
Lesser Known Poker Songs
** Go Down Gamblin' by Blood, Sweat & Tears
'Raised on brew and poker / And a dollar here and there.'
** The Devil Plays Poker - You me at Six Skrillex remix
10 Best Free Poker Sites
** Liquor in the Front, Poker in the Rear
Poker Music
** Roving Gambler
Comment below and let us know what is your favorite poker song!
View the discussion thread.