Gambler's Bride

Joe Ely

Hello, my babe, I'm back to stay
You're sure wearing fine pretty things
But where is your ring, your ring and chain
I gave you last summer in the fallin' rain?

"Your ring," she said, "you've been gone so long
I gave your ring away
I met a man, a gamblin' man
Said he would buy me the Milky Way"

Away, away, I've been away
I've been so many miles
Where is the smile that once lit your face?
It seems a tear has taken is place

"My smile," she sighed, with a look a little wild
"My smile it is possessed
I met a man, a gamblin' man
Said he would buy me happiness"

I never, I never
You know I never
I never had much to give
But I gave you my heart
Now where is your heart?
It was all that I had from the very start

"My heart," she cried, " It has been bought"
She looked at me with fear
"I married that man, that gamblin' man
Who'd shoot you if he found you here"