"The Rambling Gambler" is a traditional folk song of the American West. It was first recorded in print by John A. &

Alan Lomax Alan Lomax (; January 31, 1915 – July 19, 2002) was an American ethnomusicologist, best known for his numerous field recordings of folk music of the 20th century. He was also a musician himself, as well as a folklorist, archivist, writer, sch ...

in their jointly authored 1938 edition of ''Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads.'' Like many folk songs, it is known by a variety of titles, such as "Rambler, Gambler," and "I'm a Rambler, I'm a Gambler" The song begins with the lines "I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home / And the people who don't like me, they can leave me alone." Its lyrics mention two towns in Texas, Belton and

Saline Saline may refer to: * Saline (medicine), a liquid with salt content to match the human body * Saline water, non-medicinal salt water * Saline, a historical term (especially US) for a salt works or saltern Places * Saline, Calvados, a commune in ...

, as well as the state of

Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...

History

John Lomax did not include the song in his original 1910 edition of ''Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads'', but it appears in the 1938 edition, co-authored with his son Alan.Lomax, John A., Edward N. Waters, and Alan Lomax. ''Cowboys Songs and Other Frontier Ballads.'' New York: Macmillan, 1938. pp. 266-267. The younger Lomax recorded that they learned the song from one Alec Moore, whom he described as a "retired cowpuncher … whose present occupation is riding herd on an ice-cream wagon on the streets of

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...

." Alan Lomax recorded his own rendition for his 1958 LP ''Texas Folksongs'' (Tradition Records, TLP1029). In September 1960, 19-year-old

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

recorded the song — his second-earliest known solo recording session. The recording can be found (titled "Rambler, Gambler") on '' The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack''.

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more ...

performed the song live in the early 1960s; a 1963 recording is included in some editions of ''Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2''; her 1989 album ''

Speaking of Dreams ''Speaking of Dreams'' is the twenty-first studio album (and twenty-third overall) by Joan Baez, released in 1989. It mixed personal compositions like the title song with political statements like "China", which was inspired by the Tiananmen Squar ...

'' included a medley of the song, paired with The Del-Vikings' " Whispering Bells", performed with

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...

. Other notable performers to have recorded the song include Odetta (as "Rambler-Gambler"),

Simon & Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s, and their biggest hits—including the electric remix of " ...

(as "Rose of Aberdeen"),

Flatt & Scruggs Flatt and Scruggs were an American bluegrass music, bluegrass duo. Singer and guitarist Lester Flatt and banjo player Earl Scruggs, both of whom had been members of Bill Monroe's band, the Bluegrass Boys, from 1945 to 1948, formed the duo in 1948 ...

, Gordon Bok (as I'm a Rambler, I'm a Gambler"),

Ian & Sylvia Ian & Sylvia were a Canadian folk and country music duo which consisted of Ian and Sylvia Tyson, née Fricker. They began performing together in 1959 (full-time in 1961), married in 1964, and divorced and stopped performing together in 1975. Hi ...

(as "Rambler Gambler"), and Sandy & Caroline Paton (as "I'm a Rambler and a Gambler"). The Clancy Brothers' song "The Moonshiner" incorporates significant elements of the song, including the chorus.

External links

A version sung by the Irish rovers

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rambling Gambler American folk songs Bob Dylan songs Linda Ronstadt songs Year of song unknown