Helen’s theme of ‘Game’ for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday was apparently inspired by her enjoyment of the World Cup, on which you can glean my views here. I’m pleased she’s liking it. I am too, at least until Tuesday evening (England v Colombia).

There was a tradition that the England football squad would record an ‘inspiring’ song ahead of each campaign they were involved in. Apart from ‘Three Lions’ from the 1996 European Championships these were, without exception, toe-curlingly dreadful. Not unlike the team’s subsequent performances, in most cases. You are spared any of them.

Most of the other game-related songs I can think of relate to cards. The Grateful Dead were all over these, but (a) I featured a Dead song last week and (b) the estimable newepicauthor has got there already (plus ça change).

It’s strange how odd little incidents stick in the memory. I remember walking through Liverpool Street Station on my bleary-eyed way to work at about 6:30 one morning in the early nineties and heard this song blaring out at almost literally ear-splitting volume from W H Smith (newsagents, for non- British readers).

If you like to gamble, I tell you I’m your man,
You win some, lose some, it’s all the same to me,
The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say,
I don’t share your greed, the only card I need is
The Ace Of Spades

Playing for the high one, dancing with the devil,
Going with the flow, it’s all a game to me,
Seven or Eleven, snake eyes watching you,
Double up or quit, double stake or split,
The Ace Of Spades

You know I’m born to lose, and gambling’s for fools,
But that’s the way I like it baby,
I don’t wanna live forever,
And don’t forget the joker!

Pushing up the ante, I know you got to see me,
Read ’em and weep, the dead man’s hand again,
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die,
The only thing you see, you know it’s gonna be,
The Ace Of Spades

Written by Clarke, Taylor, Kilmister

This one will wake you right up on a summer Sunday morning.

Song Lyric Sunday 1 July 2018