Poker Music

Musically Speaking

Nearly everyone who has listened to music in the last few decades has heard the Kenny Rogers tune, The Gambler with its line that obviously refers to poker. “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em…” But this obvious example from the aging pop/lounge singer is just one of many references to the classic game of poker that we can find in songs.

Poker And Music: Warren Zevon

For instance, the late Warren Zevon is best known for his song Werewolves of London. However, Zevon referred to poker in a couple of his lesser-known tunes, with card-game and gambling references that bring to mind some of the less-savory elements of poker. In Lawyers, Guns and Money the songwriter says, “I was gambling in Havana. I took a little risk. Send lawyers, guns and money to get me out of this.”

Zevon shows that he knows a little about the details of poker when he sings, “I was staying at the Westin. I was playing to a draw, when in walked Charlton Heston, with the Tablets of the Law.” This classic line comes from Zevon’s great song My Ride’s Here, reproduced in a marvelous way by Bruce Springsteen on a tribute CD. The live performance was recorded shortly after Zevon died in September 2003.

Ray Charles

But this rock-ballad writer certainly isn’t the only one who uses the poker theme in his songs. In 1965, Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson starred in the film The Cincinnati Kid. This classic poker movie and McQueen’s character were kept alive in the Ray Charles song of the same name. Charles sang several lines with poker references:

         “A kid with no ace in the hole.”

         “When the lush royal flush of his dreaming is just a game away.”

         “But till he’s the king of the green felt shadows…”

Ace Frehley

Singer Ace Frehley uses the play-on-words technique in Five Card Stud. In one verse the sings, “I was born the son of a card shark, with a deck in my hand. I’m best at playin’ the game. I’m known throughout the land.”

Leonard Cohen

One of the saddest references to the game comes with The Stranger Song by Leonard Cohen. In one verse this talented writer from the darker side wrote, “Ah, 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 is curling just like smoke above his shoulder.”

That’s well said, when it comes to telling about poker.