🎵 Kenny Rogers - The Gambler REACTION

[@paulobrien9572]

Guys this song is a life lesson as much as it's a song about gambling. It's about learning and taking advice from your elders who probably have gone through any situation you may encounter in life

[@sattymike0155]

Those lyrics have stuck with me for decades. You could probably encounter any stranger and say “You Gotta know when to hold em…”. And get the response “Know when to fold em”.

[@jacobjones5269]

Making hard decisions with incomplete information… Thats what life is all about..

[@metalmark1214]

Sage advice.

[@user-gt2uf8cq9y]

Actually that's not it at all. It's about learning to make decisions yourself with incomplete information.

[@t0dd000]

Yeah, nothing about gambling. :)

[@davidblauyoutube]

"The best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep." Gambling for a living must have been rough. "And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler he broke even" That's a hell of a metaphor for death.

[@sammieturner338]

It amazes me how many people miss the part where the gambler dies.

[@PHILPOP2]

It's a ripper

[@PanglossDr]

I have always loved that line.

[@PanglossDr]

@@BST-lm4po I agree.

[@dessertstorm7476]

i missed it. Thanks

[@dre3k78]

The song is a metaphor about life in general. Know when to cut your losses and who to keep close to you and who to avoid etc....

[@metalmark1214]

This is one of Kenny Rogers biggest songs. The song came out in 1978. The TV movie, The Gambler, with Kenny Rogers, premiered in 1980.

[@JohnMiller-zn9pf]

turned into something like 4 or 5 TV movies over the decade

[@jeffreekoch9298]

RIP Kenny Rogers. 🙏 He just passed away last year. A great country music star and actor. Yall heard this song on movies. He had many great videos and songs, too. Especially during the '70s and '80s.

[@punkem733]

He passed away in 2020.

[@SilentBob731]

@@punkem733 He died fifteen years ago, they just stopped servicing the robot that they stapled his face onto in 2020.

[@Ednerd]

I heard this song so many times as a little kid, but listening to it now I realize it's not about gambling....it's about life! I have a renewed respect for this song!!

[@Falconer1128]

Such a great track. Some seriously deep life lessons evoked in this. Powerful life lessons that the gambler instills in his last night on Earth to a stranger. "Coward Of The County" is by far my favorite of Kenny's Side note, when I was a kid they made a TV movie based on this track and one based on "Coward Of the county". Kenny stars in both. You can find both for free still on Tubi.

[@mage1439]

I heavily endorse this pick.

[@joepaskowski9091]

Totally agree with the Coward of the County piece. But one stupid question: Do I have Tubi? Sorry…had to sneak that I there.

[@Falconer1128]

@@joepaskowski9091 lol! I see what ya did there.

[@kimberlinibambini1988]

Absolutely agree-

[@KingoRichie1990]

I would also like to endorse this pick.

[@bobdelp2023]

CLASSICCCCCCC!!! :) R.I.P. TO KENNY :(

[@j.jmcquade5278]

I love this song. Great movie too! Kenny Rogers played "Brady Hawks", The Gambler. Reminds me a lot of my dad & his story.

[@mickeykwong322]

Greatest story telling singer. OG’s have stories like no other. RIP Kenny 🙏🏽

[@BGRPiccu]

I remember this being a monster hit when I was a kid. It was a staple on country music radio for years & on good country stations, you'll still hear it today. This song takes me back to my childhood & riding around with my dad and hearing it.

[@SaturnusDK]

The story is entirely fictional and written by Don Schlitz. And yes the expression: "Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" is from this song. Don Schlitz wrote many of Kenny Rogers songs.

[@loristone9242]

The songs from the writer are much better than the beer of the same name. 😆

[@1776SOL]

Oddly enough I heard a Nashville based DJ or guest DJ on SXM recount that Don Schlitz believes that his then recently deceased father gifted him "The Gambler" because he has no idea where a story like this would've come from in his own life, since the song is a sharing of wisdom from life lessons & Don was only 23yr at the time.

[@ThatJunkman]

Don is one the top best song writers ever

[@SaturnusDK]

@@1776SOL Most songwriters write their best and most original material when they're between 21 and 27. Before that they often haven't found their own particular style yet, and after that they tend to become stuck in the same groove.

[@leonardshevlin7260]

I met Don Schlitz in a music store in Nashville in 1986. He was buying blank VHS cassette tapes. Randy Travis had recorded some of his songs co-written with Paul Overstreet that helped make him a star overnight.

[@gwumpyolman]

If you like the song watch the TV movie. Kenny had a wonderful voice. I'm sure everyone will tell you to watch "Coward of the County" which is a great song, but you should consider others like "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town", "Lady", "Reuben James", "Lucille", "Buy Me A Rose", but I think you two would enjoy "The Greatest". He had a lot of good music and I liked his Roasters chicken too. Have a great week all.

[@truthguide1742]

I agree. Too bad Kenny Roger's Roasters didn't last. My Mom and I went at once a week. Great chicken and sides.

[@dbeach3530]

.....and when he was Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, way back in the day, I Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Condition is in. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4ubnGmci8pla80

[@ps5392]

All those and “Twenty Years Ago” is one of his best.

[@kencliff9914]

And you could then listen to Cake’s cover of “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town” since you love Cake!

[@rorybisson756]

i recommend the Tv series on every reaction to this song lol. i love those movies, they are like a guilty pleasure.

[@greggburke3770]

Also if you both enjoyed the storytelling element of the song, he sang another called Coward of the County that you may enjoy.

[@kimberlinibambini1988]

Yes! I requested it as well-

[@nealm6764]

Those damn Gatlin Boys. All three of them!

[@Nimbus1701]

That's a good one, and I'd suggest Pancho and Lefty and Highwayman as good storytelling songs they should react to as well (although not performed by Kenny Rogers).

[@ericsmith6615]

Wife here.." For a taste of your whiskey I'll give ya some advice".. Iconic line!!!..Amazing song and movie!!..Thanks for your awesome selection!!

[@jerickson725]

I believe this song is about advice or "life lessons" learned from an elder about how one should live life, but told using gambling terms as metaphors. You should listen again; it make so much sense when you think about it that way! 😊

[@goosey235]

"If you don't mind me saying, I can see you're out of aces..." - I love that part, where the gambler can tell that this young person's life is not going well at all, and offers to help

[@jerickson725]

@@goosey235 Yes 🙂!

[@dyshondafowler8008]

So true!! As you get older you'll understand the song in its entirety. As my grandma used to say, "just keep living".

[@quincee3376]

RIP Kenny!!! thanks for your music.

[@CynicAtLarge]

For 60s rock Kenny Rogers check out "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" by the First Edition. He was the lead singer.

[@THEDEEPDIVE]

Yes please!

[@jennyjenny4501]

Great song!

[@apparition13]

@@jennyjenny4501 Yes, yes it is.

[@TheLonelyMan64]

Brad's head will explode

[@nekrospike]

I just dropped in to say the same thing.

[@lisas572]

Life was great back in the 70's and 80's.

[@youknow227]

What i would give to be there

[@thefullnomad6543]

Epic shit still happens. You just gotta travel some. ;) This song was so big that they actually made a TV movie of called Kenny Rogers' The Gambler. Might've even been a 2-part mini series.

[@_LVC]

Try his song COWARD OF THE COUNTY 🎸

[@justdone1068]

Yes, Coward Of The County would be good next. 🎸

[@TeflonBilly73]

Great song

[@ginoaragon3835]

Kenny is one of my favorites. I was listening to him even while i was in my metal years because of his voice and storytelling. You have to try Coward of the County and the Greatest... so many others too.

[@kimberlinibambini1988]

Yessss!

[@6li8storm40]

I’m still in my metal years, but I love him.

[@alanusletten620]

They always play this song at the end of a night out at bar or club here in Belfast, everybody sings along, the drunker the better 😂

[@justdone1068]

Great song. Know when to WALK.

[@AW11-e4h]

Y’all are gonna have lot’s of cool stories when you’re older. Give it time 🤘🤘

[@carlstawicki1915]

Coward of the County is another Kenny song with a great story.

[@lisas572]

My mom back in the the day listened to Kenny Rogers alot. I heard this song as a young kid.

[@stevedaniels623]

Metaphor for life

[@brushstroke3733]

This song is a lot deeper than I ever imagined it was. Wow. Amazing lyrics. I'm learning how to enjoy the game now, and the Gambler was dead on.

[@kimberlinibambini1988]

While this certainly applies to gambling, it’s a metaphor about life- The elder gambler he met gave him some sage advice and passed away right after- “Faded of to sleep.” You should listen to it again- Another must of Kenny’s is “Coward of the County.” Talk about a story- Please do that one next-

[@shanemason4031]

Coward of the county is a great song by Kenny Rogers

[@johnpaulbacon8320]

Great reaction. This song and a lot of other's are life lessons and guides.

[@scottdonohue3379]

Grew up with this song. Kenny Rogers has an incredible voice and is a great storyteller in his songs.

[@jamescoleman8954]

Coward of the county is a must , such a great song with a heavy meaning

[@CadillacL]

This was & still is one of my all time fav country songs!

[@mikewilliams4706]

That song is about 40 years old. Grew up listening to Kenny Roger's, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and a lot of other true country artists that my dad loved. Alabama and the Oak Ridge Boys were in there too. Memorized the words to this in the 2nd grade. Loved it. Thanks for reacting to it

[@Nimbus1701]

I can speak to a few things here. Essentially, the phrase(s) you mentioned, know when to hold 'em/fold 'em, etc.... were mainstream after this in gambling circles and to a wider audience because of the song, but the message at it's core was in poker circles long, long before and was the concept that said, you can have the best hand and still lose, and you can have the worst hand and still win..... it is about "reading" people. The meaning is much deeper, and the "gambler" breaking even means he died, but his message (we assume it is Kenny Rogers who was the one - or the gambler - that received the message) and figured out it was wisdom and a life message. As someone who has played cards for 20+ years I can say that I have won lots of money and also lost a lot of money, multiple times when I had the best hand and was outdrawn, so you can't anticipate that other than calculating odds. A great quote I got one time after losing a $2500 pot with the best hole cards was by a person older than me by several years and he said always remember that gambling money never has a home. Doesn't really pertain to the song, but it's a life lesson that no matter the circumstances, you lose sometimes without making any mistakes. The song is a storytelling song about life lessons and learning how to handle them when they occur because nobody "wins" all the time.

[@jmclen7]

Of course it’s not a true story. You don’t ruin a good story by asking if it’s true 😂. It’s a metaphor for life. I’m pretty sure this song was the origin of that phrase. Kenny Rogers became a huge crossover artist and something about him, people just liked him. He and Lionel Richie were instrumental in each other’s successful solo careers. They were best friends for a while. So the cultural impact of a Kenny Rogers hit song can’t be overstated as much as he seems like just a regular guy.

[@brandysharkey9984]

My favorite Kenny Rogers song is “Coward of the County” I actually waited on him and his grandkids about 20 years ago

[@wadsworthaaron]

This was the album that established Kenny Rogers as America's balladeer. "Lucille," "Coward of the County," and "Ruben James" are timeless country ballad classics. In the 80s Kenny became a favorite for duet hits... an all-around musical treasure. Kenny Rogers doing "The Gambler" on "The Muppet Show" was great (^,^)

[@MrCRayAnderson]

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town, is another of his greatest hits! Always enjoy your reactions!

[@PopeJohnBeatoIV]

Brought some memories back, watched this way back in the day with the old man.

[@swcoder]

If you ever gambled, this hits home.

[@katthemoss852]

My dad looked just like him while I was growing up. I used to call him "Daddy" on the TV 😆

[@jokervienna6433]

When you hear a story or a song from the "old folks", just listen carefully. Yes, not all of it is true and it might never even have happened. It is likely "polished" in their favor. But it WILL often be a very good story with some good advice. I come from Sweden and there we have something that might be translated as "The Lying Bench" (ljugarbänken). It is not really furniture, but rather that place where older people gather to exchange stories. Everyone knows that everyone exagerates or plain out lie, but there are some beautiful stories there, from great storytellers. "You remember that 3 ft pike we caught?" "Yeah, 3 ft between the eyes." :D

[@toddhorton2882]

R.I.P to this brother and yeah his songs remain, i guess you could say every life is the gambler

[@beegee1960]

This song is a metaphor for life. It was selected to be entered into the Music Registry of the Library of Congress as being culturally significant. That is a high honor granted to very songs.

[@barrybritt2210]

everything in life is that simple phrase!

[@jeffdetmer4681]

This song was written by the great songwriter Don Schlitz.

[@perryedwards4746]

I was smiling all the way through that!

[@TheKujiII]

Just a reminder- You both are awesome :) priceless reactions

[@NanaKaren1953]

Every hands a winner and every hands a lover. Great up to you to make good from bad, make the most of bad situations. Nana Karen. UK. x

[@KickyMickey1982]

Rest in peace, Kenny Rogers a.k.a. the gambler you finally broke even and you died peacefully in your sleep. You are missed

[@debbievigneault7527]

It’s a metaphor for life

[@mikehoag4846]

Coward of the County is another great story song! You won't regret it!

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Fun reaction. And Lex, you can't fool me. I saw you getting off to Hank Williams jr. Family Tradition the other day. I think there's a part of you that really enjoys basic country.

[@davidpuddy1573]

"Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in" by the First Addition, it's where Kenny got his start

[@jennyjenny4501]

I don’t know if Brad and Lex have reacted to “Ruby” yet. Great song!

[@georgeburge7136]

Love ruby

[@jimmycagle9142]

Check out Kenny Rogers..Roger's... Coward of the County. Another good story song!

[@MsDesiree39]

really good song too

[@profx23]

Metaphor for life. Kenny did several TV movies based on The Gambler character and this song. So you two aren't off track on the analysis.

[@SearlesHernandez]

More Kenny - "COWARD OF THE COUNTY"

[@TillyOrifice]

Listened to this immediately after the Dead Milkmen. What a fine contrast!

[@lloyderc]

Great man. Was awesome to see him in concert

[@jonnno243]

One thing that comes to mind about Kenny , apart from the fact that he was a real fine singer, is that on an album I have by him, he sings The Eagles' song ," Desperado", and makes a superb version of what was already a fantastic song.

[@glennwalker5700]

I find your innocence nice. I’ve done a lot of things in my life, from benign to batshit crazy, and this song has good advice. Particularly knowing when to walk away and when to run. That’s why I’m still here to type this. Maybe the best advice is to be ware of your situation and surroundings.

[@ronparsons8786]

It's not just about literal gambling... Bigger meaning

[@epstiensbedsheetnecktie9212]

His song "The Greatest" is got the best story. Got to give it a listen.

[@armywife1641]

It’s a metaphor for life. The song was written by country music Hall of Fame writer Don Schlitz.

[@chrisa4695]

Kenny Rogers began his career playing bass in a jazz band. He later moved to rock and finally country. One of the few artist to move into country from other genres and gain mass acceptance.

[@Einungbrekke]

Lol... A few hours ago I was watching your reaction to Lady and I commented that you should watch the gambler.... And here we are! :D

[@Paradox-vk9fe]

Kenny Rogers had something that has been lost from music for years now, the ability to tell a story with a song.

[@chrisa4695]

I knew of this song in high school. They made a movie starring Kenny Rogers. However, I only listened to the entire song for the first time a year or two ago.

[@skinhitter27]

DON WILLIAMS - 'I BELIEVE IN YOU' ! ! ! ❤️

[@cluneyc]

"old school dude", got a ring to it

[@gerainthughes2088]

another good song from keeny rogers coward of the county well worth a listen to

[@dredgewalker]

What Kenny's saying is life is just like a gamble.

[@rogermcginnis2765]

Never heard the phrase until after the song, so I will go with that.

[@t0dd000]

This is an incredible earworm. And, of course, it's all metaphor.

[@kevinerose]

I wish I knew when to hold them and when to fold 'em. But most importantly when to run. Good song for young people to listen to.

[@bsquizzle100]

Please do “coward of the county” for your next Kenny Rogers. Y’all will like it.

[@kimberlinibambini1988]

Yes! I commented the same-

[@1BEAST1775]

This song was so popular back in the day they actually made a TV movie by the same name and Kenny played the Gambler

[@aceblades8679]

You guys are a fkn riot. 😂

[@John_Locke_108]

I miss pre-covid when you could share your whiskey bottle with strangers on a train.

[@cobrakari]

You guys haven’t reached the age where you can look back at your life and see the perfect story.

[@2dashville]

A useful life lesson for many a situation

[@derekcogdill8090]

Definitely a song about life in general.

[@esselleanderic]

One big metaphor for life!

[@welding_guy7524]

it makes me so happy your generation is experiencing the greatest musicians ever..It’s too bad you didn’t get to experience riding in the car on family vacation , hearing this on the radio, and asking your parents to turn it up please

[@angelskunk2206]

Yes Paul O’Brien!!! Major life lessons!

[@STEELCITYBERMA]

RIP Kenny! Legend!!

[@nicolesaunders2964]

He had a bunch of tv movies based on this song he played the old man and I loved every one of them 😂

[@atuuschaaw]

Yes, sound advice...on many levels. ♥

[@LynnThompsonAuthor]

I think encounters like the one described in this song seem so strange to younger people today because nobody today talks to the people around them when they're out in public any more; everybody's too absorbed in their own phone. Y'all have got to react to some of the great singer-songwriters that were so prominent in the '70s: Cat Stevens' songs "Father and Son", "Wild World", "Moonshadow", "The Wind", and "Longer Boats"; Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle", "Mr. Tanner", and "W*O*L*D"; Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle", "Operator", and "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"; James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" and "Sweet Baby James"; Jackson Browne's "The Times You've Come" (with Bonnie Raitt singing harmonies), "Doctor, My Eyes", "Rock Me on the Water", "Redneck Friend", and "Ready or Not"; Billy Joel's "Travelin' Prayer", "The Ballad of Billy the Kid", or his instrumental "Root Beer Rag"; Warren Zevon's "Carmelita"; Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)"; Bob Dylan's "Tangled Up in Blue" and "Simple Twist of Fate"; Elton John's "Goodbye, Norma Jean" and the combo of "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"; Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" (requested at a lot of funerals); Randy Newman's "Louisiana" and "Rider in the Rain"; Loggins & Messina's "Danny's Song", "House at Pooh Corner", and "Your Mama Don't Dance". And there were many women singer-songwriters in those days, as well: try Joni Mitchell's "Free Man in Paris", "Big Yellow Taxi", "Rainy Night House", or "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"; Joan Baez's "Diamonds and Rust" or "Jesse"; Janis Ian's "At Seventeen"; Carole King's "Natural Woman", "It's Too Late", "I Feel the Earth Move", or "You've Got a Friend" (made a bigger hit by James Taylor); Linda Ronstadt's "Blue Bayou", "You're No Good", or "Poor Poor Pitiful Me". And if you want another comic song to react to, try Loudon Wainwright III's "Dead Skunk In the Middle of the Road"! It was such a blessing to be young in the '70s and get to hear all this music when it first debuted and was being played on the radio all the time! Along with all the rock songs - progressive, British, etc., it was all great!

[@justdone1068]

Millennials need to take this advice to heart. Life is a game.

[@metoo7557]

Only when you're winning.

[@justdone1068]

@@metoo7557 We are the pawns.

[@justdone1068]

@@metoo7557 And Walk when you're Winning.

[@Rotnbully]

Lyrical masterpiece 👌

[@mrtoad47]

I think it's so perfect of the current age that they're looking for the con behind the con -- okay what else is coming!

[@overkill1025]

Bobby Bare - The Winner is a funny life lesson song my grandpa used to listen to often

[@matthewarsenault463]

I mean this with all respect you're a lucky man she has a beautiful smile she seemed so enthusiastic about any video cute couple

[@markclark4795]

KR and the First Edition was his first band. Listen for Viet Nam protest song "Ruby". His song is featured the Big Lebowski movie

[@jennhurl]

Kenny is a great story teller... check out "Coward Of The County"!!