Kentucky Gambler Lyrics - Merle Haggard

I wanted more from life, than four kids and a wife 

And a job in a dark Kentucky mine. 

A twenty acre farm, with a shackey house and barn 

Thats all I had and all I left behind 

But at gambling, I was lucky, and so I left Kentucky 

And left behind my woman and my kids 

Into the gay casinos, of Nevada's town of Reno 

This Kentucky Gambler planned to get rich quick 

Kentucky gambler who's going to love your woman in Kentucky 

Yeah - and who's going to be the one to give her all she needs 

Kentucky gambler, who's going to raise your children in Kentucky 

And who's going to keep them fed and keep them shoes on their feet 

There at the gambler's Paradise, Lady luck was on my side 

and this Kentucky gambler played just right 

Yeah I won at everything I played - I really thought I had it made 

But I should have quit and gone on home that night 

But when you love the green backed dollar, sorrow always bound to follow 

and Reno's dreams fade into neon amber 

And Lady Luck, she'll lead you on 

She'll stay a while, and then she's gone 

You better go on home, Kentucky gambler 

But a gambler never seems to stop, till he loses all he's got 

and with a money - hungry fever, I played on 

I played till I'd lost all I'd won, I was right back where I'd started from 

Then I started wanting - to go home 

Kentucky gambler, there ain't nobody, waiting in Kentucky 

When I ran out, somebody else walked in 

Kentucky gambler, looks like you ain't really very lucky 

And it seems to me a gambler loses much more than he wins 

much more than he wins.