moomal06 January 19th, 2006 04:03PM  
The gambling is a metaphor for life in general. Everything we do is a gamble, and to be really lame: you go big, or you go home.

anonymous December 5th, 2006 12:59PM  
I think this song is a sort of metaphor for how scary and dangerous real life can be. And being so vulnerable out there, and how so many things can easily grab our attention.

anonymous November 30th, 2007 04:03PM  
Elliott moved to L.A. and played clubs there, a lot of this is about his disenchantment with the music industry. I've read interviews where he spoke about a bidding war involving Mary Lou Lord where "industry types" would buy him drinks and stuff just because of his association to her.

clef711 January 10th, 2008 09:27AM  
This song is quite simple to read into, as previously stated it's Elliot's warning to other musicians of the disillusionment and hype involved with making the choice to pursue your art in a town so clearly driven by money. The gamble he's referring to is the gamble a musician makes when deciding to put himself out there, perhaps sacrifice a "normal life" for the dream of pursuing a career in music. Its insight into the fake, material and financially driven music business sucking the life out of inspired talent just to make a buck...