Starin' at my cards like they owe me somethin' Workin' on a ragged hand I can see the reaper sittin' at the table And I know that he's got a plan Must've wanted my heart to break Turnin' a mirage into a lake I'm comin' over the mountain and I'm pumping the brakes Workin' on a full card straight Everybody's always askin' Why do what I do I don't gamble 'cause I want to win, boys I gamble 'cause I need to lose Got some miles on the engine No way to roll back the clock I wouldn't do it even if I could I gotta play 'til the music stops Learned too late, sing the blues Let the dirt get on these shoes You want to find the queen, you got some pawns to lose Darlin' I'd tell you the truth Everybody's always askin' Why do what I do I don't gamble 'cause I want to win, boys I gamble 'cause I need to lose I need to lose I need to lose I need to lose I need to lose I gamble 'cause I need to lose Somebody call the doctor Something wrong with me I know there's something missin' What it is I just can't see It's down in my chest, dark aches and pains I know I got a screw loose inside of my brain And everybody's always askin' Why do what I do I don't gamble 'cause I want to win, boys I gamble 'cause I need to lose Everybody's always askin' Why do what I do I don't gamble 'cause I want to win, boys I gamble 'cause I need to lose I need to lose I need to lose I need to lose I need to lose I gamble 'cause I need to lose