Ten Tunes Featuring Playing Cards
Musicians draw inspiration from all sorts of activities in their lives, and gambling is certainly no different. It turns out there are just enough pretty cool songs out there featuring references to playing cards to put together a list of ten. Who knew? Specifically, for some reason, it seems references in songs are limited to the Face Cards because I guess songs about the Three of Clubs and the Seven of Diamonds would be pretty boring. Here are the ten that we found, but let us know if we missed one of your favorites in the comments section.
10) That Was a Crazy Game of Poker
Artist : O.A.R. (1997)
Card Reference : Simply put: if you’ve ever played a game of cards with your friends, you’ll get it.
9) Lonesome Loser
Artist : Little River Band (1979)
Card Reference : It’s right there in the chorus, genius!
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
Beaten by the queen of hearts every time
Have you heard about the lonesome loser
He’s a loser, but he still keeps on tryin’
8) Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House
Artist : Garth Brooks (1991)
Card Reference : As goofy a song as it is (and it is), it’s all in the lyrics. The entire song makes playful references to the deck of cards. Listen… but trust me, it’s ridiculous.
7) Poker Face
Artist : Lady Gaga (2008)
Card Reference : It makes reference to having a poker face when playing cards, but the song itself is about being a cocktease. Yep.
6) Desperado
Artist : The Eagles (1973)
Card Reference : Again, it’s not really about cards themselves, but it does contain the lyric:
Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She’ll beat you if she’s able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet
5) The Gambler
Artist : Kenny Rogers (1978)
Card Reference : The entire song is about a guy who plays poker. Please tell me you know this song.
4) Queen of Hearts
Artist : Juice Newton (1981)
Card Reference : Even though it’s more about lost love and getting away from it all, it does contain the card-centric lyric:
Playing with the queen of hearts
Knowing it ain’t really smart
The joker ain’t the only fool
Who’ll do anything for you
3) The Joker
Artist : Steve Miller Band (1973)
Card Reference : Okay, admittedly we’re stretching here. This isn’t really about cards, but what the hell: it’s an awesome song and it’s called The Joker. Take it or leave it.
2) Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts
Artist : Bob Dylan (1975)
Card Reference : A little aside here: if you say that you don’t like Dylan, do yourself a solid and listen to ‘Blood on the Tracks’. You’ll thank me later. Oh, and the song mentions the Jack of Hearts repeatedly.
1) Ace of Spades
Artist : Motörhead (1980)
Card Reference : Right there in the title. It’s Lemmy and if Lemmy makes reference to cards, then dammit, it’s about cards.