The Gambler
“The Gambler” is a country song written by Don Schlitz and recorded by several artists, most famously by American country singer Kenny Rogers. It was released in November 1978 as the second single from his album The Gambler. The song topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the United States and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1979.
Background and composition
“The Gambler” was written by Don Schlitz in 1976. He was inspired to write the song after meeting a gambler on a train. Schlitz was struck by the gambler’s wisdom and philosophy of life. He wanted to write a song that would capture the gambler’s spirit and share his insights with the world.
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a gambler who meets a young man and shares his wisdom about life. The gambler tells the young man that life is a game and that the best way to win is to know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em. He also tells the young man that it’s important to know when to walk away and know when to run.
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“The Gambler” is a beautiful and moving song that will be cherished for generations to come.
Here are some additional details about the song:
- The song was inspired by Don Schlitz’s meeting with a gambler on a train.
- The song’s lyrics tell the story of a gambler who shares his wisdom about life with a young man.
- “The Gambler” was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the United States.
- The song has been covered by many artists, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson.