Now once I knew a gambler down in Birmingham Folks used to call him old one-eyed Sam
He was a dice hustler and he couldn't lose He would yell, my baby needs a new pair of shoes
And throw a seven and then eleven And he always let his money right
He'd throw a seven, another eleven He had a road like an ocean tide
Now he'd fall right down on his knees And beg them snake eyes to stay away please
And throw a seven and then eleven And he'd rake the money to his knees
One night when Sam had made a dozen licks or more
One of the heavy losers got mad and sore He said, I know who's cheating, but his name I won't shout
But if he don't stop, I'll shoot his good eye out
There came a seven, hey look out, eleven And Sam had let his money right
Another seven and then eleven
He had a road like an ocean tide
Sammy said to the squawker, if you can't lose right
You better go home and lock yourself in tight
And throw the seven and then eleven And he raked the money to his side
Now Sammy kept on shooting like he heard him knocking
There came a loud report of a pistol shot
I looked at Sam in time to see his eye go out
As he fell to the floor, I heard his last breath shout
Another seven, hey come on, eleven
And just let the money right
Another seven and then eleven
He had a road like an ocean tide
Then Sammy looked up at us and said,
Grin, there's a game down yonder that I'm gonna get in
And throw the seven and then eleven
And he raked the money to his side