Paul Shapera
The Ballad Of The Gambler And The Monk
[Narrator]
You remember at the start, the Gambler and the Monk played cards?
[Music with a rustic folk feel begins.]
Years before, a Monk and Gambler embarked
On a long trek right through the great lands of the North
They had a debate about God, chance, and fate
And agreed it be settled through just one card game
Day after day, they sat there and they played
As the weeks and the days and the months passed away
Travelers came in just to watch and drink gin
And bet on which one would eventually win
As a whole town was then slowly built round them
The Gambler's pot rose and the Monk's pot went down
And, thus, came to pass, the final hand came at last
But before it was played, the Gambler’s heart, it gave way
He hollered and cried right out ‘fore he died
A curse from his lungs: the game was not done
He swore they’d be back to finish at last
And fist to the sky, the Gambler died