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The Gambler
Kenny Rogers
The Gambler
The Gambler
RaitingSR
Supervision Recommended
Information
Released 1978
Genre Country
Language English
Source Rock Band Country Track Pack
Available July 21, 2009 (Pack)
(DLC)
Playable in
Rock Band
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 3
Rock Band Blitz
Difficulty
Band 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Basic Pro
Guitar 3FcircleFcircleFcircleUFCirlceUFCirlce NoNo Part
Bass 0UFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce NoNo Part
Drums 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Keys NoNo Part NoNo Part
Vocals 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce 1FcircleUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlceUFCirlce
Details
Male singer
3-part Harmonies



The Gambler is a song by Kenny Rogers.

Written by Don Schlitz, this is a story told from the first-person perspective about a conversation with an old poker player on a train. The card shark gives life advice to the narrator in the form of poker metaphors, before dying in his sleep.

This song spawned the poker catchphrase, "Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em." (Thanks, Andy - Arlington, VA, for above 2)

A 1979 made-for-TV movie called The Gambler, which was inspired by this song, became the biggest rated TV film of the year and spawned several other movies. (Thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

This entered the UK charts for the first time in 2007 after being popularized by the England Rugby team. During the Rugby World Cup the prop forward Matt Stevens warmed up for games by performing the song in the dressing room on his guitar and the England team subsequently adopted it as an unofficial anthem during their successful run to final of the tournament. (Thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

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