I Wonder Where's the Gambler [Laws H22]

DESCRIPTION: The gambler spends all night at cards. In pain, he has to be helped home by friends. He is put to bed, and his mother asks the Lord to forgive him. The gambler says it is too late to pray. The chorus ends, "I wonder where he's gone" (i.e. Heaven or Hell)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1917 (Cecil Sharp collection)
KEYWORDS: gambling death farewell Hell
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Laws H22, "I Wonder Where's the Gambler"
Henry-SongsSungInTheSouthernAppalachians, pp. 96-97, "I Wonder Where's the Gambler" (1 text)
Cohen/Seeger/Wood-NewLostCityRamblersSongbook, pp. 82-83, "The Gambler's Dying Words" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sharp-EnglishFolkSongsFromSouthernAppalachians 152, "The Gambling Man" (1 text plus a fragment, 2 tunes, but only the "A" fragment is this song; the "B" text is "Darling Corey")
Brown/Schinhan-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore5 659, "I Wonder Where's the Gambling Man" (1 short text, 1 tune, presumably this)
DT 829, WHERGAMB
Roud #428
RECORDINGS:
Sid Harkreader, "The Gambler's Dying Words" (Broadway 8115, c. 1930)
Panhandle Pete [pseud. for Howard Nash], "The Gambler's Dying Words" (Decca 5599, 1938)
File: LH22

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