Gonna tell you a story
'Bout a good ol' friend mine
Who really loved his livin'
Lots of women, dice and wine
Women, dice and wine

(He said)
I'm just a joker
Can't stay in one place too long
I've made some money with my poker
I think I will not sleep alone

Everybody plays
Everybody tries
It's another little game I play
And I call it: Tryin' not to die
Tryin' not to die

But people drinking in the backstage
It was down south very far
He said let's stop your talkin' and maybe
I'll begin listen to your guitar

Well he died the way he lived
In a casino playin' hard
His heart stopped so early, babe
Cause' he got that winning card

Well he'd taken all his chances
Till the day he gone away
Through the whims of fancy lady
I could still hear him say

Everybody plays
Everybody tries
It's another little game I play
And I call it: Tryin' not to die
Tryin' not to die