The Gambler es un álbum de Kenny Rogers, publicado en 1978 por United Artists Records. El disco incluye 11 canciones, entre ellas «The Gambler», «I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again», «King Of Oak Street» y «Making Music For Money».
Sobre el álbum
El álbum The Gambler, de 1978, es la obra que transformó a Kenny Rogers de estrella del country a icono de la cultura popular estadounidense. Este disco, y en particular su canción principal, es la quintaesencia de su arte como contador de historias, una creación notable que trasciende géneros y generaciones. Es su trabajo más importante y reconocido.
En primer lugar, la canción "The Gambler", escrita por Don Schlitz, es una de las mejores canciones narrativas de la historia de la música. La historia del viejo jugador que comparte su sabiduría en un tren nocturno es una metáfora perfecta de la vida misma, con sus riesgos, sus victorias y sus derrotas. La interpretación de Kenny Rogers, sobria y llena de sabiduría, es simplemente perfecta.
El éxito de la canción fue tan masivo que generó una serie de películas para televisión protagonizadas por el propio cantante, convirtiendo al personaje del "Jugador" en su alter ego. El álbum no solo fue un éxito musical, así como un fenómeno cultural. Mientras tanto, el disco también incluye otro gran éxito, "She Believes in Me", una poderosa balada sobre el amor y el apoyo incondicional.
"The Gambler" es un álbum legendario, una obra sobresaliente que va más allá de la música para convertirse en una lección de vida. Es el disco que inmortalizó a Kenny Rogers y que nos enseñó que en la vida, como en el póker, "tienes que saber cuándo mantener tus cartas y cuándo retirarte".
Listado de Canciones
- The Gambler3:32
On a warm summer's evening On a train bound for nowhere I met up with a gambler We were both too tired to sleep So we took turns a-starin' Out the window at the darkness The boredom overtook us And he began to speak He said, "Son, I've made a life Out of readin' people's faces And knowin' what the cards were By the way they held their eyes. So if you don't mind my sayin' I can see you're out of aces For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice." So I handed him my bottle And he drank down my last swallow Then he bummed a cigarette And asked me for a light And the night got deathly quiet And his face lost all expression Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, You gotta learn to play it right. You got to know when to hold 'em, Know when to fold 'em, Know when to walk away, And know when to run. You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealing's done. Every gambler knows That the secret to survivin' Is knowin' what to throw away And knowin' what to keep. 'Cause every hand's a winner, And every hand's a loser, And the best that you can hope for Is to die in your sleep." And when he finished speakin' He turned back toward the window Crushed out his cigarette And faded off to sleep And somewhere in the darkness The gambler he broke even And in his final words I found an ace that I could keep You got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealing's done You've got to know when to hold 'em (When to hold 'em) Know when to fold 'em (When to fold 'em) Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealing's done You got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealing's done - I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again2:55
Letra
Oh, I wish that I could hurt that way again At least I had you every now and then And in between the sorrow At least there was tomorrow And as long as there's tomorrow There's no end Oh, I wish that I could hurt that way again. Oh, I wish that we could play that game again Even though I'd always lose and you would win At times you would desert me The emptiness would hurt me But your coming back Was always worth the pain Oh, I wish that I could hurt that way again. I'd love to hear you tell me You don't need me anymore Just like you used to tell me everyday I'd love to watch you leaving Like the hundred times before At least my eyes could see you walk away. Oh, I wish that we could play that game again Even though I'd always lose and you would win At times you would desert me The emptiness would hurt me But your coming back Was always worth the pain Oh, I wish that I could hurt that way again... - King Of Oak Street4:55
Letra
Like a leaf caught in the wind he drifted a while With no purpose or direction too his life He tried to get himself together and pacify his mind And forget about the things he left behind. The cryin' woman standing helpless in his door With a two month old baby in her arms His little black book laying torn up on the floor And God only knows he never meant to do her wrong. A careless weekend on the other side of town Has torn the king of Oak Street's Castle down And all week long he's tried to call her but she won't let him explain Now Sunday morning finds him walking in the rain. He sits down in a phone booth and he prays That she'll forgive him and she'll believe he's changed his ways With shaking hand he deposits his last dime And he's still praying that she won't hang up this time. Then the sweetest voice he's ever heard says hello Breakfast's almost ready baby, come on home I've thought the whole thing over and I think I understand That the king of Oak Street is just an ordinary man. I've thought the whole thing over and I think I understand That the king of Oak Street is just an ordinary man... - Making Music For Money3:10
Letra
When I woke up this morning I was tired as I could be I think I was counting my money When I should have been counting sheep My agent he just called me and told me what I should be If I would make my music for money Instead of making music for me I said I know that this may sound funny But money don't mean nothin' to me I won't make my music for money, no I'm gonna make my music for me He said that people only buy the love songs. Rock and roll is not too long He said son you got to be commerical If you want to turn the people on. And I said turning on the people Now that's a beautiful place to be But if I spend my time makin' memorable rhyme Well who's gonna turn on me? I said I know that this may sound funny But money don't mean nothin' to me I won't make my music for money, no I'm gonna make my music for me Well now, I went up the country And I'll tell you all about the scene I found a place with much charm and much grace That was untouched by the music machine Well the people where havin' a good time Makin' music all day long And nobody cared if they ever got paid One penny for playin' a song I said I know that this may sound funny But money don't mean nothin' to me I won't make my music for money, no I'm gonna make my music for me - The Hoodooin´ Of Miss Fannie Deberry4:44
- She Believes In Me4:11
Letra
While she lays sleeping I stay out late at night and play my songs And sometimes all the nights can be so long And it's good when I finally make it home, all alone While she lays dreaming I try to get undressed without the light And quietly she says how was your night And I come to her and say It was all right, and I hold her tight And she believes in me I'll never know just what she sees in me I told her someday if she was my girl I could change the world With my little songs, I was wrong But she has faith in me And so I go on trying faithfully And who knows maybe on some special night If my song is right I can find a way While she lays waiting I stumble to the kitchen for a bite And I see my old guitar in the night Just waiting for me like a secret friend And there's no end while she lays crying I fumble with a melody or two And I'm torn between the things that I should do And she says to wake her up when I am through God her love is true And she believes in me I'll never know just what she sees in me I told her someday if she was my girl I could change the world With my little songs, I was wrong But she has faith in me And so I go on trying faithfully And who knows maybe on some special night If my song is right I can find a way While she waits While she waits For me - Tennessee Bottle3:59
Letra
I broke the law and I used a gun I broke the Ten Commandments one by one I always wished that I had a son Just to teach him not to I lived in the valley and I hid in the hills I stole moonshine from illegal stills Folks said "Don't rile him 'cause he may kill" But only if I've got to All I want is a Tennessee bottle All I need is an Arkansas bride All I can see is an Ozark mountain sunrise And 500 miles to hide my life, life, life, to hide my life To hide my life I tried to farm and I tried to mine I tried cuttin' on the timberline But pain and sweat was all I'd find Rewarding all my labor So I robbed banks and I robbed trains I lost one eye in a poker game I gave up gambling 'cause it's such a shame To cheat your friends and neighbors All I want is a Tennessee bottle All I need is an Arkansas bride All I can see is an Ozark mountain sunrise And 500 miles to hide my life, life, life, to hide my life To hide my life I think I'm gonna quit and change my ways Settle down and live an honest day Someone said that crime don't pay But I gotta 'nuff to live on I think I'm gonna move to Little Rock Leave my doors without a lock I might be a foot without a sock But I got cash to stand on All I want is a Tennessee bottle All I need is an Arkansas bride All I can see is an Ozark mountain sunrise And 500 miles to hide my life, life, life, to hide my life To hide my life - Sleep Tight, Goodnight Man2:52
Letra
The sandman told me he's done all he can The situation calls for more than sand You've been crying all night long Tossing and turning and it's almost done. I am here, I'm gonna help you sleep Count on me instead of counting sheet Close your eyes and leave the rest to me. And you'll have sweet dreams at the last of night And easy feeling and a morning light Drift away with a touch of the hand From the sleep tight, goodnight man. Soft and sooth and as a lullaby I'll kiss your tears from those weary eyes And in the morning you will understand That you've been touched by the goodnight man. I'll rock you gently like a rolling wave Hold you in my arms until you drift away So just lay back and leave the rest to me. And you'll have sweet dreams at the last of night And easy feeling and a morning light Drift away with a touch of the hand From the sleep tight, goodnight man. - A Little More Like Me (The Crucifixion)2:47
Letra
It was an April night and I was driving Went out on the town The show was at the palace So we all went on down We all had a bomb as I recall But now it seems absurd As the madness raged upon the stage He didn't say a word He was a little weak and we all fear It wasn't one of us He didn't drink, he didn't smoke And he didn't [Incomprehensible] You'd see him now and then With a bunch of men hanging around the sea And I'm sure I would have liked him more If he were a little more like me It was a spring each day The clouds were gray Looked like in my dream Thought about the night before And I was so ashamed When I heard what they had done to him Stranger I had known But as drunk as we all got last night It's a wonder we got home He was a little weak and we all fear It wasn't one of us He didn't drink, he didn't smoke And he didn't [Incomprehensible] You'd see him now and then With a bunch of men hanging around the sea And I'm sure I would have liked him more If he were a little more like me And I'm sure I would have liked him more If he were a little more like me - San Francisco Mabel Joy3:36
Letra
His daddy was an honest man, red dirt Georgia farmer His mamma lived her short life having kids and baling hay He had fifteen years, an ache inside to wander He hopped a freight in Waycross, wound up in L.A. Lord the cold nights had no pity on a Waycross Georgia farmboy Most days he went hungry, then the summer came He met a girl known on the strip as San Francisco's Mabel Joy Destitutions child born of an L.A. street called shame Growing up came quietly in the arms of Mabel Joy Laughter found their mornings, brought a meaning to his life Yes, the night before she left, sleep came and left that Waycross country boy with dreams of Georgia cotton and a California wife Sunday morning found him standing 'neath the red light of her door When a right cross sent him reeling, put him face down on the floor In place of Mabel Joy he found a merchant mad merine, he growled that Georgia neck is red, but sonny your still green He turned twenty-one in a gray rock federal prison The old judge had no mercy for a Waycross Georgia boy Starin' at those four gray, in silence he would listen That midnight freight he knew would take him back to Mabel Joy Sunday morning found him lyin' 'neath the red light of her door With a bullet in his side he cried have you seen Mabel Joy Stunned and shaken someone said she's not here no more She left this house four years today They say she's looking for some Georgia farm boy - Morgana Jones3:03
Letra
Morgana Jones was a middle aged woman She was ugly as she could be Looking for a kid about half her age To show him what there was to see Morgana knew more tricks than Houdini She could make a blind man see Make a crippled man run along High hurdles and Morgana's coming after me. Morgana leave me alone I don't need none of your action Morgana leave me alone I got my own kind of satisfaction. I gave ten dollars for an hour and a half God, it sure went fast! Morgana kept her eyes on her watch She knew how long I'd last Many was the time I'd hide up in the hills It was that or the undertaker And morning would come and I'd tip-toe out And pray to God I wouldn't wake her! Morgana leave me alone I don't need none of your action Morgana leave me alone I got my own kind of satisfaction. Now that I think about poor Morgana She really wasn't all there I know she's not the best I've known But she's sure not the worst I've had It really didn't matter when she said it was over I didn't have to bother The thing that hurt when she looked at me Said I'd never be as good as my father. Morgana leave me alone I don't need none of your action Morgana leave me alone I got my own kind of satisfaction Don't you talk about Morgana