Kentucky Gambler
Encyclopedia
"Kentucky Gambler" is a 1974 song written and performed by Dolly Parton
. "Kentucky Gambler" was issued as a track from Dolly Parton's, The Bargain Store
album from 1975. That same year, Merle Haggard
, covered "Kentucky Gambler" where it became his nineteenth number one song on the country chart. (Coincidentally, Parton's The Bargain Store album featured a cover of a Haggard composition, "You'll Always Be Special to Me".) The Merle Haggard version stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of eleven weeks on the chart.
A classic Dolly Parton story song, "Kentucky Gambler" tells the story of a miner from Kentucky who abandons his wife and children for the bright lights of Reno
, where he initially does very well at gambling, "winning at everything he played". Eventually, however, his winning streak comes to a halt, as he loses all of his winnings and then, broke, he returns home, only to find that his wife has found someone else and has moved on without him, and concludes that "a gambler loses much more than he wins".
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
. "Kentucky Gambler" was issued as a track from Dolly Parton's, The Bargain Store
The Bargain Store
The Bargain Store is Dolly Parton's fifteenth solo studio album and was released in 1975. In the Parton-penned title track, one of her best known compositions, she used worn, second-hand merchandise in a discount store as a metaphor for a woman damaged by an ill-fated relationship...
album from 1975. That same year, Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
, covered "Kentucky Gambler" where it became his nineteenth number one song on the country chart. (Coincidentally, Parton's The Bargain Store album featured a cover of a Haggard composition, "You'll Always Be Special to Me".) The Merle Haggard version stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of eleven weeks on the chart.
A classic Dolly Parton story song, "Kentucky Gambler" tells the story of a miner from Kentucky who abandons his wife and children for the bright lights of Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
, where he initially does very well at gambling, "winning at everything he played". Eventually, however, his winning streak comes to a halt, as he loses all of his winnings and then, broke, he returns home, only to find that his wife has found someone else and has moved on without him, and concludes that "a gambler loses much more than he wins".
Chart performance
| Chart (1974-1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |