I am a rovin' gambler,
I've been in many a town.
Where-e'er I see a pack of cards,
I lay my money down.
With a click clack oh and a high johnny ho,
I lay my money down.

I hadn't been a packet man
Many more weeks that three,
When I fell in love with the St. Louis girl
And she in love with me.
With a click clack oh and a high johnny ho,
And she in love with me.

We went in the back parlor,
She cooled me with her fan,
And she whispered soft in her mother's ear,
"I love my gamblin' man,
With a click clack oh and a high johnny ho,
I love my gamblin' man."

"Oh daughter dear, dear daughter,
How could you do me so,
To leaveyou dear old mother-er,
And with this gambler go?
With a click clack oh and a high Johnny ho,
And with thie gambler go?"

"'Tis true I love you dearly,
'Tis true I love you well,
But the love I have for the gamblin' man
No human tongue can tell.
With a click clack oh and a high Johnny ho,
No human tongue can tell."

She picked up her satchel
And she did leave her home,
And on the steamer "Morning star"
The two of them did roam.
With a click clack oh and a high Johnny ho,
The two of them did roam.