The Gambler Music Achim Reichel, German lyrics Joerg Fauser, translation Jan Hauenstein

(Em) (G)(A)(Em) (G)(A)(Em)
In the middle of winter, in the (G)deep, (A)deep (Em)snow,
In the wee hours of the night the casino lights still (Am)glow.
The last (C)gambler at the table in the great big (Em)hall
Has got (C)one last grand and he´s (B)waiting for the numbers to (Em) fall.(hold)

He´s tried out all the numbers, lost on (G)eve(A)ry (Em)one,
He knows losing now means he´d be good as (Am)gone.
And when he (C)stretches out his hand to put his money down,
He hears the (B)gamblers that were lost in the wind´s mournful sound…

Hoo-oo, ha-ah, (Em)”Make your game, gambler, gambler, make your (Am)game,
The (Em)game´s almost over, you see, gambler, make your (Am)game,
´Cause only (C)when you´ll have lost it (B)all, you´ll be (Em)free,
´Cause only (C)when you will have lost it (B)all, you´ll be (Em)free, free…”

And the gambler hesitates, then he (G)makes (A)his (Em)game,
Waits for the highest victory or for the deepest (Am)pain,
Puts all his (C)money on the seventeen - and seventeen (Em)falls!
(C)Thirty-five grand, just (B)hear how Lady Luck (Em)calls!(hold)

Thirty-five grand, and they all (G)stare at (A)his (Em)face.
But look at that madman, acting like he´s in a (Am)daze!
He leaves it (C)all on that number, what a fool indeed,
Then (B)‘rien ne vas plus’, and you can hear the gambler plead…

Hoo-oo, ha-ah, (Em)”Make my day, lucky number, lucky number, make my (Am)day,
The (Em)game´s never over, you see, lucky number, make my (Am)day,
Just one more (C)time, (B)and I´ll be (Em)free,
Just one more (C)time, (B)and I will be (Em)free.” (Am) (Em) (Am) (C#m)

It´s still the middle of winter, still the (E)deep, (F#)deep (C#m)snow,
And a luckless gambler can still bring you down so (F#m)low.
In the (A)port the ships are howling, the seagulls (C#m)cry,
The (A)dawn breaks cold and hard, hear the (G#)wind softly (C#m)sigh… sigh…

The girl (Em)calls out to the gambler, “Boy, it´s (G)time (A)to (Em)go,
You have lost so much, are you ready to (Am)blow?”
And the (C)gambler looks up, his head still in a spin,
And the (B)girl looks back, and she says with a grin…

Hoo-oo, ha-ah, (Em)”Make your game, gambler, gambler, make your (Am)game,
This (Em)game´s for free, you see, gambler, make your (Am)game,
´Cause only (C)when you will have won (B)me, you´ll be (Em)free,
And (C)this game is played by (B)you and by (Em)me.”
Faites vos jeux!… (D) Rien ne va plus… Dix-sept…

© Achim Reichel/Joerg Fauser, All Rights Reserved

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