The Gambler

He said “just one more hand,” with rent already due,

Bills piled on the table, still he swore he’d break through,

Chasing every dollar like it owed him something back,

Never saw the hole he dug with every card he stacked.

Groceries turned to tokens, fed machines instead,

Cupboards running empty, reels spun in his head,

Promises kept breaking, more than he admits,

Trading meals for maybes, chasing losing hits.

(Pre-Chorus)

“I got a system,” like the odds were on his side,

Every loss a setup, every warning fed his pride,

Called it bad luck timing, said he’s due to win,

Never saw the trap slowly closing in.

Landlord knocking hard now, notices on the door,

Phone keeps ringing nonstop, debts he can’t ignore,

Friends all disappeared, they got tired of the lies,

Every “I’ll pay you back” just another thin disguise.

Now he’s standing in line, paper bowl in his hand,

Soup kitchen reflection—this wasn’t what he planned,

Cold wind cuts deeper than the shame he hides inside,

Rock bottom turns to quicksand, swallows up his pride.

(Chorus)

Now the truth hits hard, no system he can beat,

All those “almost wins” kept him locked into his seat,

Cost was never just the money that he spent,

It was pieces of his life the tables slowly bent.

Then he looks around, sees the damage he has done,

All the bridges burned for a game he never won,

Says it out loud, “yeah, I got a problem now,”

Takes a step for help, makes a different kind of vow.

(Bridge)

Odds were always stacked, but he swore he had a play,

Counting cards in dreams while real life slipped away,

Every hand he held was just another losing bet,

Blind to all the risks he never would admit,

House edge never sleeps, it was built to take him down,

Every near miss just another hook to keep him bound,

Betting on a lie dressed up like control,

Game was always rigged before he took the roll.

(Chorus)

Kept on playing like the odds would swing his way,

Every loss behind him just a price he had to pay,

Said “I’m due for something big,” like the table couldn’t see,

House was built to take, not to set a gambler free,

Every chip he pushed was just a piece of life,

Every roll of chance cut deeper like a knife,

Now he sees the truth in every bet he’d place,

You don’t beat the house—you just lose at your own pace.