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Posted By: Mary E. Warneka

Posted On: Sep 30, 2005
Views: 1212
dead asleep?

wow. i was really thinking that the gambler had mentally/spirirutally broken even and decided to leave the game, not life. but seeing the lyrics really swayed me towards "dead". plus, if the muppets portrayed it that way??? would they purposefully lead millions of young children astray? i hope not. the muppet show was my church.


Posted By: Underblog

Posted On: Sep 30, 2005
Views: 1216
Know When to Fold Em

I think BWA needs to know when to fold em. Clearly the dealin is done.


Posted By: james

Posted On: Sep 29, 2005
Views: 1236
totally dead

upon further review my belief in a dead gambler has become rock hard. if you note in the chorus kenny sings that "there will be time enough for countin' when the dealin' is done". this establishes mr. rogers as more of a poet (abstract, digs on metaphores) than a nonfiction writer (cold hard concrete facts). no self respecting gambler would begin counting his/her money as soon as the cards were dealt. you have to play poker (or occasionally texas crazy legs) - if you are counting your money you will miss your opponents sweet "tells". when kenny later mentions the gambler "breaking even" he doesn't mean that he literally "broke even" (they weren't even playing cards - plus at this point in the story the gambler was asleep (see also: "the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep"). Kenny is describing a man's death, a man who is so devoted to gambling that he calls himself "the Gambler" and as a poet he describes this death in the way that his new gambling buddy would most appreciate. also, train rides are hard on old people.


Posted By: Ranger T

Posted On: Sep 29, 2005
Views: 444
Are you kidding me and my ass?

The lyrics say: "And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
And then what happens? The old bastard DIES IN HIS SLEEP! WTF?


Posted By: Sherman

Posted On: Sep 29, 2005
Views: 449
not dead

Right on, SSB! I agree. There's really nothing definitive in there about dying. I just bent to join the "Yes, he died" crowd because I'm weak and need the support of others.


Posted By: SuSuBelle

Posted On: Sep 29, 2005
Views: 437
No, he didn't die!

The genre demands tragedy???? It's not "Long Black Veil," for God's sake. There's no implication at the beginning that he's going to die, and no "textual evidence" that he did, no matter what BWA contends.


Posted By: Chairman Meow

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 461
denial. anger. etc.

i hate being muted like this. damn zonkboard. i'm a paying customer! gripe gripe gripe.


Posted By: Sherm

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 465
ARRGGH!

I miss us!!!! Do something MIss Jenny!!! PS. I know. You can't.


Posted By: bad babysitter (esg)

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 486
that is one fine fetus!

lookit it gestate! what a womb! good genes on that kid.
can't wait to make its acquaintance!
xoxox

ps i am actually a very good babysitter. until they start wanting to play games and i have to help them pee and stuff. but diapers, singing, cry-soothing, barfin' on me, i got that shiz down. so i chew your kid's foot a little. big whoop.


Posted By: shermie

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 465
poll comments

hey, this commenting board can serve us while the zb is all ****ed up!


Posted By: shermie in zb withdrawl

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 457
the gambler is dead. and sleeping.

i voted for sleeping. later for dead. i can't decide.
papa wainwright says sleep is like death, so it really doesn't matter.


Posted By: Capt. Jack Sparrow

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 450
the Gambler died on the train

When "The Gambler," song was performed on "The Muppet Show," the Gambler died on the train... and that's the story I'm sticking with.

Does anyone else remember that skit? Was it not scary as all hell to see a Muppet ghost?! I can still picture it to this day, yet I haven't seen the show since the early 80s!

http://conversationswithmud.blogspot.com


Posted By: not esg pining for zboard

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 448
are you a good kisser?

this was the sponsoring link a minute ago. it featured pink smoochy-action lips. alas, now the love is gone.

oh! look! i think i just won fitty dollars! i should go click that and give them my account info!


Posted By: esg

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 451
there is no gambler!

he's a cipher or whatever. he's a symbol, or a ghost. he's an older person's wisdom imparted to a drunk.

and i never read that song anything but literally before. because i heard it constantly as a kid and played a lot of penny poker. now i see it as a life lesson. i need those lately.

i will now live my life by his words. know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. and know when to freaking RUN!


Posted By: jm

Posted On: Sep 28, 2005
Views: 455
this poll rules

this is the best poll in history. whoever made this poll ****in rules.