I reconnected with an old friend recently, Ken Finkel, who is a wonderful guy and an accomplished musician. I am a writer and book publisher first, but I happened to mention to Ken my side hustle. I am a semi-professional poker player and have competed against the best players in the world with some success. I shared with him that I will be playing in the annual World Series of Poker next month and he sent me this song he wrote some years ago about love forlorn and poker.

It’s a fantastic song and you can play it and read the lyrics below. It was double interesting to me as so much of Poker applies to life. Last year I wrote a post about 10 Life Lessons I learned from Playing Poker. It got such a wonderful reception, that it was republished as part of the Amazon #1 bestselling book Getting Wiser.

I hope you enjoy listening to Ken’s song together with his rousing bluegrass band, Grass Food & Lodging.

(C) 1977 Ken Finkel | Dede Wyland – Guitar and vocals. Ken Finkel – Banjo and vocals, Jim Price – Mandolin and vocals, Peter Knupfer – Fiddle, Jimmy Driskell – Bass, Recorded live at Charlotte’s Web, Rockford, IL. – November 18&19, 1977

Listen  Read’em and Weep

The Lyrics

Read ‘em And Weep
Words and Music by Ken Finkel

Verse 1:

Last night at the party, all the jokers running wild,
You were dealin’ out your sweet talk They were checkin’ out your style.
I thought the cards I held were good enough for me to keep.
But when I asked to see your hand, my eyes feel to my feet,
You said:

Chorus:

Read ‘em and weep, throw you cards back in and leave the table
Read ‘em and weep, your luck ran out today
Read ‘em and weep, cash your chips in buddy if you’re able,
Read ‘em and weep, you’d best be on your way

Verse 2:

I thought I had it straight and bet that we were still a pair
Then you said I’d better try my hand at solitaire
You passed my deal to someone else and left me all alone
Since you gave me the Royal Flush, I guess I’m on my own
You said: 

Chorus:

Read ‘em and weep, throw you cards back in and leave the table
Read ‘em and weep, your luck ran out today
Read ‘em and weep, cash your chips in buddy if you’re able,
Read ‘em and weep, you’d best be on your way

Thank you Ken for sharing your fantastic song. I don’t think you have to be a poker player to enjoy it. Your song inspired me to write this post and share it with my favorite friends and readers. I will keep you all posted on how I make out at the World Series of Poker this year.

If you have any poker experiences or Life Lessons Learned, please share them in the Comments below.

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Catch up on my original fast-paced thriller NOT SO DEAD and the Sam Sunborn Series They are available on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com
If you like short reads you can really finish, grab a copy of my short story collections: The Last Appointment: 30 Collected Short Stories
Or my children’s adventure book: Nougo and His Basketball.

And read for FREE some of Charles Levin’s short stories:

I’m Processing
Books Unread
Nora Delivers the Package
The Permission Slip
10 Life Lessons I Learned from Playing Poker
Missing the Ghost in the Palace Theater
Moon Landing Memories
Word Drunk

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