As I get older, I find myself increasingly playing songs & tunes I first learned 50+ years ago when i first picked up the banjo (Handsome Molly, Cumberland Gap, Cripple Creek, Hook and Line, Shout Lulu, Sally Goodin et al.). "The Rovin' Gambler" (or "The Gambler", "The Gambling Man", "Roaming Gambler" etc.) is one of those songs. I first heard "The Rovin' Gambler" in the early 70's as played by Gid Tanner & The Skillet Lickers on their September 1929 Columbia 78rpm single release (recorded in April 1929) and picked it up pretty quick, it's not a hard song to learn that's for sure-haha!
I still play it pretty much like I did back then, again not a lot to it, but a fun song that attracted me due to my family history; suffice it to say, there is a long line of celebrated (or notorious on who you asked in the family) professional gamblers and poker players going back to the mid 1800's on my dad's side of the family (Georgia & Alabama), and extending through me to my daughter, who's a pretty mean Hold 'Em player. In fact, after my dad passed away, I found out that. although he was a legendary music industry executive, he was quite a successful poker player in the 50's and 60's, being backed in some pretty high stakes underground music industry games with a litany of famous names. But I digress...
The song itself is a very interesting one as far as its heritage. Although it sounds British Isles ballad-y, it's history is a little more muddy than that. In starting to research it, I was surprised at the relative dearth of information about the history of the song, especially considering that it's been recorded by seemingly EVERYONE over the last 100 years, but then fortuitously stumbled on a very cool, fun, and in-depth podcast by Olivia Harding that goes into FAR more detail about the song than I could ever hope to find using the Google machine. Her podcast is a great listen, with lot's of music, and I HIGHLY recommend checking out the entire 38 minute show. I'll be checking out more of her podcasts when I go on my random YouTube rabbit hole quests. Suffice it to say, the song apparently DOES have some British Isles/Irish links.
There are SO many versions of this song, ranging from Kelly Harrell to Ramblin' Jack Elliott to J.D. Crowe to Doc Watson to The Stanley Brothers to Dierks Bentley to Billy Strings to Stanley & Ray Hicks to Jerry Garcia & The Hart Valley Drifters to Bob Dylan to The Everly Brothers to Peter Case to Dave Browning (a wild 1960's rockabilly version recorded in Toledo Ohio!) to... well you get it. This one's been around throughout many musical genres, and is now a BG standard, but I always go back to North Georgia's Gid Tanner & The Skillet Lickers version.
Still some of the most enjoyable string band music ever recorded, Gid Tanner and The Skillet Lickers played from the early 1920's until 1960 and beyond in different incarnations, so they're like the Old-Time equivalent of the Rolling Stones I guess. Up until 1931, the band consisted of fiddlers Gid Tanner, Clayton McMichen, renowned and influential guitarist Riley Puckett, and the mysterious Fate Norris on banjo (which always seemed to be buried in the mix on their recordings). You can find their complete recorded works on Document Records (among other labels), and I highly recommend giving their music a deep listen.
The song is real straightforward, easy to play and fun to sing with its MULTITUDE of different lyrics. I won't list them all, but I've always sung the lyrics Riley sings on the Skillet Lickers release (without the repeat verses):
I am a roving gambler
I’ve gambled down in town
Whenever I meet with a deck of cards
I lie my money down
I’ve gambled up in Washington
I’ve gambled down in Spain
I’m going down to Georgia
To gamble my last game
I had not been in Washington
Not many more weeks than three
When I feel in love with a pretty little girl
She feel in love with me
She took me to her parlour
She cooled me with her fan
She whispered low in her mother’s ear
I love the gambling man
Oh daughter, dearest daughter
How can you treat me so?
To leave your dear old mother
And with a gambling go
Oh mother, dearest mother
It’s true I love you well
But the love I have for the gambling man
No human tongue can tell
He’s gambled in the Wildwoods
He’s gambled on the train
He’s gambled all over Georgia
And never lost a game
Oh see that train a comin’
She’s comin’ round the curve
A whistlin’ and a blowin’
And strainin’ every nerve
Ph mother, dearest mother
I’ll tell you if I can
If ever I ain’t comin’ back again
I’ll be with the gamblin’ man
Banjo tuned gDGBD, you can play this basically on the fourth and third strings, give it a whirl and the join the crowd that plays this old song. Have a great weekend & take care!
Edited by - RG on 01/31/2026 15:15:11
Thanks Rounder!
You gotta love Stanley and Ray Hicks, Skillet Likkers and Doc Watson! They do a better job than the imitations from the folk scare.
quote:
Originally posted by lapsteelThanks Rounder!
You gotta love Stanley and Ray Hicks, Skillet Likkers and Doc Watson! They do a better job than the imitations from the folk scare."I wouldn't marry a railroad man, I'll tell you the reason why
did you ever see a guitar picker wouldn't tell his wife a lie" Ha ha!
RG, I hear you on going back to those tunes and songs that were in the early repertoire. Always have loved Roving Gambler in its many iterations.
About a year ago I made a video of Roving Gambler to demonstrate clawhammer, up picking and thumb lead two finger style all on the same tune. Made tab for it as well.
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/1TF6VE7b0ek
Tab stored here on the Hangout: https://www.hangoutstorage.com/banjohangout.org/storage/tabs/r/tab-roving-gambler--27740-36818712025.pdf
quote:
Originally posted by jack_beuthinRG, I hear you on going back to those tunes and songs that were in the early repertoire. Always have loved Roving Gambler in its many iterations.
About a year ago I made a video of Roving Gambler to demonstrate clawhammer, up picking and thumb lead two finger style all on the same tune. Made tab for it as well.
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/1TF6VE7b0ek
Tab stored here on the Hangout: https://www.hangoutstorage.com/banjohangout.org/storage/tabs/r/tab-roving-gambler--27740-36818712025.pdf
That's great Jack! That's how I've always played it as well, downstroke for the "breaks" and 2FTL for verses.
Edited by - RG on 01/30/2026 12:30:40
A great song, one of the first I learned too.
Two of my favorite recordings are Land Norris' Gambling Man: youtube.com/watch?v=irYXe9g6WFM
and J.J. Neece's Old Gambling Man: youtube.com/watch?v=Qd_djY-MGPw
quote:
Originally posted by Hunter RobertsonA great song, one of the first I learned too.
Two of my favorite recordings are Land Norris' Gambling Man: youtube.com/watch?v=irYXe9g6WFM
and J.J. Neece's Old Gambling Man: youtube.com/watch?v=Qd_djY-MGPw
Land Norris' playing is probably the first North Georgia 2 finger banjo recorded... and Land is even more mysterious than Fate in that virtually nothing is known of his life, outside of the fact that he *may* have played with Fiddlin' John Carson, and also odd that, although both were from relatively the same geographical area of North Georgia, they were of no relation to each other. Land's "Cumberland Gap" is a masterpiece.
Edited by - RG on 01/31/2026 15:12:44
I guess I have been a massive fan of the Skillet Lickers since around 1964 or 65 as well as an individual fan of Tanner and the great George Riley Puckett. Curiously, the band was actually a studio band of musicians who gathered to make records but the group on the recordings as a regular unit outside the studio. Puckett was a professional musician who toured the South and the rest of the country as a banjoist and guitarist and singer and Tanner was a great star in Georgia and won fiddle contests.
I do mourn that old time playing does nowadays tend to neglect the playing of wonderful songs like Roving Gambler, that EVERYONE used to be able to plat 50 years ago but seems not to be known anymore because it is not some obscure wordless fiddle tune,
Many old time bands and combinations that we know chiefly from recordings were like this, bands, studio groups. Like a number of the better selling groups they also did recordings that were like little plays that were funny, although probably dwelling too much on stereotypes about "Hillbillies" to suit some.
One musician that I hope people will discover on these recordings is the GREAT GEORGE RILEY PUCKETT who plays guitar on many of these sections, but also did play the banjo. I even have a Riley Puckett tee shirt.
Anyone who brings honor to Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers gives honor to us all. Back in the 60s he seemed to be much better known. There are several collections of Tanner and Puckett and the only advice I give to any person is you should get every possbile recording you can, and do not worry if you end up with duplicates.
Thanks for bringing this to the attention of the tribe here.
Everyone with ears should make sure his or her ears get treated to the sounds of Tanner and the Skillet lickers,.
Jack and Hunter here are both so generous with the instructional material and the recordings they have made. Anyone who has not should go on YouTube and put in their names and can find a lot of very nice stuff that can help your banjo picking or and your heart.
Edited by - writerrad on 01/31/2026 17:09:06
quote:
Originally posted by writerradI guess I have been a massive fan of the Skillet Lickers since around 1964 or 65 as well as an individual fan of Tanner and the great George Riley Puckett. Curiously, the band was actually a studio band of musicians who gathered to make records but the group on the recordings as a regular unit outside the studio. Puckett was a professional musician who toured the South and the rest of the country as a banjoist and guitarist and singer and Tanner was a great star in Georgia and won fiddle contests.I do mourn that old time playing does nowadays tend to neglect the playing of wonderful songs like Roving Gambler, that EVERYONE used to be able to plat 50 years ago but seems not to be known anymore because it is not some obscure wordless fiddle tune,Many old time bands and combinations that we know chiefly from recordings were like this, bands, studio groups. Like a number of the better selling groups they also did recordings that were like little plays that were funny, although probably dwelling too much on stereotypes about "Hillbillies" to suit some.One musician that I hope people will discover on these recordings is the GREAT GEORGE RILEY PUCKETT who plays guitar on many of these sections, but also did play the banjo. I even have a Riley Puckett tee shirt.Anyone who brings honor to Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers gives honor to us all. Back in the 60s he seemed to be much better known. There are several collections of Tanner and Puckett and the only advice I give to any person is you should get every possbile recording you can, and do not worry if you end up with duplicates.Thanks for bringing this to the attention of the tribe here.Everyone with ears should make sure his or her ears get treated to the sounds of Tanner and the Skillet lickers,.Jack and Hunter here are both so generous with the instructional material and the recordings they have made. Anyone who has not should go on YouTube and put in their names and can find a lot of very nice stuff that can help your banjo picking or and your heart.
Very well put Tony and in COMPLETE agreement with your entire post.
Dan Gellert told me a long time ago, that to his ears, what was missing for him in most "modern" banjo playing was the VOICE... something else I'm in complete agreement with. Don't get me wrong, I'll always love fiddle/banjo tunes, but a lot of this music was songs and not tunes, and I hope maybe we get back to some of the songs as played by folks like Gid, Burnett & Rutherford, Whttier & Grayson, Gribble, Lusk, York, Joe & Odell Thompson, Georgia Yellowhammers, Andrew & Jim Baxter, etc. etc.
quote:
Originally posted by RGAs I get older, I find myself increasingly playing songs & tunes I first learned 50+ years ago when i first picked up the banjo...
...I still play it pretty much like I did back then, again not a lot to it, but a fun song that attracted me due to my family history...
I find the same thing RG. I have a handful of fairly simple, very common tunes that I learned from my Dad at the beginning of my banjo career- Cripple Creek, Sourwood Mountain, Green Corn. Nothing real special other than that he played them, having learned them from Morgan "Morg" Howard (1867-1933) his best friend's Grandfather. So, priceless heirlooms none-the-less, and I'll never stop playing them. Like you, as I get older, they have more, and more meaning.
The song that I will sing is an old song, so old that none knows who made it. It has been handed down through generations and was taught to me when I wqs a little lad. It is now my own song. It belongs to me. It is a holy song, and great is its power...
- Geronimo
Good on you RG!
Dan Gellert told me a long time ago, that to his ears, what was missing for him in most "modern" banjo playing was the VOICE... something else I'm in complete agreement with. Don't get me wrong, I'll always love fiddle/banjo tunes, but a lot of this music was songs and not tunes, and I hope maybe we get back to some of the songs as played by folks like Gid, Burnett & Rutherford, Whttier & Grayson, Gribble, Lusk, York, Joe & Odell Thompson, Georgia Yellowhammers, Andrew & Jim Baxter, etc. etc.
There is a strange evolution in the old time music "revival." Old Time music being taken on outside of its origins spread to the North as part of folk music boom starting in the late 40s or 1950s was originally about songs. I AM 78. When I was in high school in Connecticut or in college in DC or when I lived as a young guy in NYC and I was going to play music with people, or go to a concert, most of what would be played or heard would be SONGS with words that someone sang, and some folks knowing how to sing in harmony regardless of what instrument a person played.
Most people were expected to sing songs and "traditional" artists people looked to were largely those who sang or had singers in their bands. There was not as much of a distance between old time music and bluegrass.
Today if there is an old time jam to go to, people almost exclusively play wordless fiddle tunes, or tunes people in their ignorance think have no words when some of us know the words to these tunes!
People who take banjo lessons today usually get taught how to play the melody part of a fiddle tune. Often they are taught fiddle tunes that in the hundreds of recordings I possess and thousands I have heard, I have never heard of a banjo playing solo or lead. They do not get taught the usual purpose of the banjo especially in old time, as an accompaniment to singing either in a band, or by a banjoist who sings by her or his self.
Often if I call a tune like Roving Gambler say in 1967 or 1977, I would expect everyone to know at a jam, people will say what. Often, if someone calls a tune that people forget has words and I will sing the words, people will say "I did not know that had words."
As always we get clarity and wisdom from Mr. Lunsford. Folklorists and later recording company people like Ralph Peer sought out people who knew many many tunes and songs, just because it is easier to get a lot of songs out of the few people who knew many many songs, often being people with a special knack for it, or who in some way made it their business to know many songs to perform for people. I know that some that when old time music enthusiasts came upon people like Doc Watson or the Stanley Brothers in the 50s and 60s, they often gifted them all sorts of old time music recordings from folklorists or 1920s and 30s commercial records to help them add old time tunes to their repertoire, often songs they had once known but forgotten.
15-20 years ago I did a lot of looking into the repertoire especially of Black banjoists and fiddlers I was interested in. I found that pretty much the repertoire of all but a few especially older ones was often was fairly limited to about 20 or 30 tunes and songs. Any who knew more were often taking one of their songs or tunes usually played in one key or tuning and giving it another name, other words if it had them, and playing it in another key or tuning sometimes with the tempo changed.
Gid Tanner and George Riley Puckett were professional musicians, even if they posed especially in Tanner's case as country farmers. They derived their income from performing at shows and selling recordings and appearing on the radio. Tanner was adept at keeping his name before the public winning fiddle contests in Atlanta for decades.
Puckett toured the United States with several different vaudeville shows for years. When he did not have that opportunity he sometimes busked in the streets of Atlanta or even in places like New York if a show he was working in was playing there. He was blind, and music was one of the occupations the world of middle 20th century Georgia offered for the blind, with special music instruction being offered and favored in "blind schools."
It is interesting to me that as I age, the memory of tunes I do remember without working on it reverts back to these basic tunes that I learned to play in the 1960s as songs. Many fiddle tunes if you ask me if I know it, I go blank, but as soon as someone starts playing it, I realize the musical contours and surprise myself about how well I can hit it on the banjo orguitar,
It does surprise me insofar as if I call such tunes, that I would have thought "everyone" knew in 1965 or 1970 or even 1980, people who claim to be knowledgeable will say "what?"'
I will call Roving Gambler at our local mostly seniors old time jam tomorrow and see how many know it and how many say what even though it is an older crowd. Here in Palm Beach County FL oldster retirees like myself makeup so much of the body of both the old time and the bluegrass jam that both the old time and the bluegrass jam are weekdays during the middle of the day!
quote:
Originally posted by R.D. Luncefordquote:
Originally posted by RGAs I get older, I find myself increasingly playing songs & tunes I first learned 50+ years ago when i first picked up the banjo...
...I still play it pretty much like I did back then, again not a lot to it, but a fun song that attracted me due to my family history...I find the same thing RG. I have a handful of fairly simple, very common tunes that I learned from my Dad at the beginning of my banjo career- Cripple Creek, Sourwood Mountain, Green Corn. Nothing real special other than that he played them, having learned them from Morgan "Morg" Howard (1867-1933) his best friend's Grandfather. So, priceless heirlooms none-the-less, and I'll never stop playing them. Like you, as I get older, they have more, and more meaning.
The song that I will sing is an old song, so old that none knows who made it. It has been handed down through generations and was taught to me when I wqs a little lad. It is now my own song. It belongs to me. It is a holy song, and great is its power...
- Geronimo
Good on you RG!
I've always loved that Geronimo quote, it perfectly describes where I'm at in my playing now, glad I'm not in that space alone-haha!
There is a lot of concentrated knowledge and experience here on the BHO. The list of exceptional posters would be a mile long.
Even so, I'd just like to mention how much I appreciate current contributors Tony Thomas and RG. I make a point of reading everything they post because I learn something every time.
RG is a fount of research and information on the "real" old-time stuff, and Tony always expresses viewpoints that help me see things from angles that have many times never occurred to me.
It's a privilege to be able to converse with you both.
quote:
Originally posted by R.D. LuncefordThere is a lot of concentrated knowledge and experience here on the BHO. The list of exceptional posters would be a mile long.
Even so, I'd just like to mention how much I appreciate current contributors Tony Thomas and RG. I make a point of reading everything they post because I learn something every time.
RG is a fount of research and information on the "real" old-time stuff, and Tony always expresses viewpoints that help me see things from angles that have many times never occurred to me.
It's a privilege to be able to converse with you both.
The feeling is mutual sir! SF!
Thanks, RG! Your genuine musical experiences broaden my repertoire every time you post. Your playing is a treat, too, with its old-timey banjo sound and with your deep vocals. Rovin' Gambler was a bit of a challenge for me with the singing. I found country pioneer Eddy Arnold's 1955 version and liked what came out as notes within Em and Am chords, plus he had lyrics suitable for the woman to sing.
quote:
Originally posted by JanetBThanks, RG! Your genuine musical experiences broaden my repertoire every time you post. Your playing is a treat, too, with its old-timey banjo sound and with your deep vocals. Rovin' Gambler was a bit of a challenge for me with the singing. I found country pioneer Eddy Arnold's 1955 version and liked what came out as notes within Em and Am chords, plus he had lyrics suitable for the woman to sing.
i always enjoy your take on tunes/songs Janet, and your singing is superb. What a beautiful version you posted!
What a good choice.
I've been trying to play in as many sessions as I can recently, all over the UK. Some are bluegrass, some are old time, and some are both. ("Both" is normally just like the bluegrass sessions tbh.....)
Anyway, my point is that tunes touched by Doc Watson in anyway get played in old time sessions just as often as they do in bluegrass sessions! What a guy.
Thanks for choosing this, sorry I'm late responding!
quote:
Originally posted by AndyrhydycreuauWhat a good choice.
I've been trying to play in as many sessions as I can recently, all over the UK. Some are bluegrass, some are old time, and some are both. ("Both" is normally just like the bluegrass sessions tbh.....)
Anyway, my point is that tunes touched by Doc Watson in anyway get played in old time sessions just as often as they do in bluegrass sessions! What a guy.
Thanks for choosing this, sorry I'm late responding!
That's a real nice version Andy, very much enjoyed that; glad you posted!
I had the pleasure of distributing Doc's albums for Barry Poss when he owned Sugar Hill records. Doc (and Barry for that matter) were two of the nicest people you could ever meet... i consider myself lucky to have done so on multiple occasions... miss them both.
Edited by - RG on 02/06/2026 13:42:05
I'm late to this thread, but I always liked this song. Have always played it on the guitar, inspired by Ramblin' Jack. Now, under the influence of all the links posted in the original post, I started to play a different version on the guitar, which I will post now, if nobody minds.
Simultaneously, I started to work on a banjo version, not being able to decide between a clawhammer version in (relative) standard- or double-C on the one hand, and a three-finger-picking version in open-G on the other hand. I would like to post a banjo version too, shortly.
For now, I've been drawn to record a new guitar version first:
quote:
Originally posted by EmielI'm late to this thread, but I always liked this song. Have always played it on the guitar, inspired by Ramblin' Jack. Now, under the influence of all the links posted in the original post, I started to play a different version on the guitar, which I will post now, if nobody minds.
Simultaneously, I started to work on a banjo version, not being able to decide between a clawhammer version in (relative) standard- or double-C on the one hand, and a three-finger-picking version in open-G on the other hand. I would like to post a banjo version too, shortly.
For now, I've been drawn to record a new guitar version first:
That's outstanding Emiel! Ramblin' Jack's version is one of my favorites, really like this arrangement you've posted!
quote:
Originally posted by RGquote:
Originally posted by EmielI'm late to this thread, but I always liked this song. Have always played it on the guitar, inspired by Ramblin' Jack. Now, under the influence of all the links posted in the original post, I started to play a different version on the guitar, which I will post now, if nobody minds.
Simultaneously, I started to work on a banjo version, not being able to decide between a clawhammer version in (relative) standard- or double-C on the one hand, and a three-finger-picking version in open-G on the other hand. I would like to post a banjo version too, shortly.
For now, I've been drawn to record a new guitar version first:
That's outstanding Emiel! Ramblin' Jack's version is one of my favorites, really like this arrangement you've posted!
Thank you, RG…!
It took a long time, but I've got so much work all the time… I think, this tune works better for me on the guitar (see above), but this is a banjo website after all… This is a combination of three-finger picking and clawhammer. Banjo: Clifford Essex C.E. Special wood hoop.
Edited by - Emiel on 02/25/2026 10:05:48
quote:
Originally posted by EmielIt took a long time, but I've got so much work all the time… I think, this tune works better for me on the guitar (see above), but this is a banjo website after all… This is a combination of three-finger picking and clawhammer. Banjo: Clifford Essex C.E. Special wood hoop.
That is indeed a FINE version Emiel. well worth the wait! Thanks for recording and posting!
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