Greatest Poker Songs of All Times

It seems that a successful songwriting career is something reserved only for the most creative people among us. In addition to creativity, the list of necessary requirements for successful songwriting includes having some talent and endless imagination. An accomplished songwriter is a person who succeeds in touching other people's hearts with the lyrics of their songs. This, however, is a highly complicated thing to do since, naturally, different individuals have different interests.

One particular area of interest that has caught the attention of millions all around the globe in the recent years has been poker. And, so, some of the world's most renown songwriters have written songs on this exceptional game. At times, poker songs describe someone's personal gaming adventure, while at other times, the songs speak of a collective experience involving the game. Many of the poker songs have become highly popular hits and enjoy incredible popularity until this very day.

It is our goal in this article to present our readers with the greatest poker songs of all times:

1. The Angel and The Gambler, by The Iron Maiden. In 1998, the English heavy metal band The Iron Maiden released an album called 'Virtual XI.' The album included a single titled 'The Angel and The Gambler.' The song relates the story of a down-on-his-luck man who reaches a crossroads. His destiny is out of his hands... Nevertheless, he needs to decide what direction to take before the devil snatches him to hell. Much like a poker player's fate, the song protagonist's life depends on a roll of the dice or spin of the wheel.

2. Winner Takes it All, by Abba. Abba first released the song in 1980. 'Winner Takes It All' relates the story of an abandoned lover. The narrator seems to be female as she reveals that she has been replaced by another woman. Well, this of course is correct unless Abba are hinting at a homosexual relationship between the two lovers. We however, believe it highly unlikely. The narrator says that she has played all of her cards but still lost in the game of love. Her fate was sealed by the gods. Yet, somewhere deep inside she hopes that her lost lover still remembers her... Well, maybe if she is so unlucky in love she'd do better in poker...

3. The Gambler, by Kenny Rogers. 'The Gambler' is one of the songs included in an album released by American country singer Kenny Rogers in 1978. The song tells the story of a late-night meeting on a train between the narrator and an unnamed old gambler. During their meeting, the anonymous gambler teaches the narrator one of poker's greatest lessons: one needs to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Knowing when to walk away from a losing hand is one of the most valuable skills in poker. This is a secret to surviving both in a card game and in life. Luckily for the narrator, he seems to know to appreciate the tip.

4. Shape of My Heart, by Sting. Sting released the song 'Shape of My Heart' in 1993. The song tells the story of a poker player. He seems to be quite experienced for he is familiar with the game beyond its most basic rules. It is said that the gambler does not play for the money he might win or for the respect he might gain. Rather, he plays because he searches for some sort of an answer. Perhaps 'the game' stands for life and the player is seeking for a key to unlock the door to life's most precious secret: the ultimate answer to 'why things happen the way they do?'

5. Losing Hand, by Ray Charles. Late U.S. music legend Ray Charles is the author of a great song called 'Losing Hand.' In the song, the narrator addresses a lover who has betrayed him in some way. While the narrator trusted her and offered her the very best of himself, she managed to deal him a losing hand. 'You used me for your joker ´cause I thought you're deal was clean...' complains the narrator. Well, the lesson seems to be that trust is a must in any relationship, specifically in a romantic one. However, one should avoid getting hurt. Much like poker players, lovers should always keep one eye open... Just in case!

6. The House of the Rising Sun, by Bob Dylan. 'The House of the Rising Sun' is actually a folk song. In 1962, popular American singer Bob Dylan included it in his first album, dubbed 'Bob Dylan.' The song tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans. The narrator describes her/ his lover who is a poker gambler. The picture is quite cheerless. The gambler is a drunk who travels aimlessly from town to town looking for the ultimate poker game. The narrator seeks to warn the audience, especially his/ her baby sister that just as their mother predicted, a relationship with a gambler would never work out. Defeated by life the narrator goes back to New Orleans.

7. Gambler, by Madonna. The song was first released by Madonna in 1985 as part of the singer's soundtrack album and motion picture titled 'Vision Quest.' The narrator announces herself (we assume she is female because the singer is female, but with Madonna who knows...) to be a gambler. Whether she plays poker or any other casino game is not specified. She is dangerous to her romantic partner and suspects that he is envious of her because of her success. She is volatile and there is nothing stable in her life. One day she is here and the next one, who knows. She is not to be trusted.

8. Deal, by Grateful Dead. American rock band Grateful Dead has been active between the years 1965-1995. The band was widely known for its unique style, which combined elements or rock, blues, jazz and space music as well as onstage performances. The band's song 'Deal' speaks of a person with a decade-long experience in poker or some sort of other card game. The narrator mentions that the gambling world is dangerous and a newcomer to this world should be highly careful about the moves they make.

9. That Was a Crazy Game of Poker, by O.A.R. Of A Revolution (A.O.R.) is an American rock band. Over the years, the band has become extremely popular among college students. 'That Was a Crazy Game of Poker' is considered one of the foremost college songs and is O.A.R's greatest hit. The song is narrated by a poker player. He does not seem to be overly successful as he complains that he lost his watch in a previous poker game. The narrator has a confrontation with another gambler named Jack. The game's craziness is reflected in the song's lyrics. It seems to be written by a madman.

10. The Jack, AC/DC. AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band. The band's members are considered to be pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal. AC/DC's song 'The Jack' speaks of a love affair gone bad. The narrator feels betrayed by his romantic partner. The relationship is described as a cheating poker game where the narrator's opponents are all playing unfairly. Furthermore, the narrator says that he had never expected to be cheated. He could never know what she felt and what she wanted because she always had a poker face. He admits that their entire relationship was 'a bad deal.'

Enjoy!