Written By Warren Zevon  c. Zevon Music/BMI (1976)  Gambler ambled down a country lane  Looking for a game of chance  She was twenty-one or two  And she knew what she wanted  And she wanted that gamblin' man  Her parents warned her  Tried to reason with her  She was determined that she wanted Bill  They'd all be offended at the mention still  If they heard this song, which I doubt they will  And my mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with their daughter  don't marry that gamblin' man  Mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with their daughter  don't marry that gamblin' man  Mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with her  No, no nevertheless  I said my mama couldn't be persuaded  when they pleaded with her,  "Daughter, don't marry that gamblin' man."  Gambler tried to be a family man  Though it didn't suit his style  He thought he had him a winning combination  So he took us where the stakes were high  Her parents warned her  Tried to reason with her  Never kept their disappointment hid  They all went to pieces when the bad luck hit  Stuck in the middle, I was the kid  And my mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with their daughter  don't marry that gamblin' man  Mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with their daughter  don't marry that gamblin' man  Mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with her,  No, no, nevertheless,  My Mama couldn't be persuaded  When my Granny pleaded with her  Not to marry that gamblin' man.  I said my mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with their daughter  don't marry that gamblin' man  Mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with their daughter  don't marry that gamblin' man  Mama couldn't be persuaded  When they pleaded with their daughter  don't marry that gamblin' man