I thought I was a gambler

Broke ev'ry shark in town

Until I met a rounder

Who called all I put down

We laid the cards on the table

He drew an ace high hand

He bet his watch and I called it

And lost my money like a man



(Chorus)

I've got them polka dot blues, oh, them polka dot blues

Lost my hat and my coat and my straight-laced shoes

Sold my watch and went back to lose

The mean old gambling polka dot blues



Now my gal had plenty, so I got twenty

Then went back and sat down

I got a four but thought it was more

As we dealt the cards around

I sat the deck on the table

Bet him all I could stand

I turned it over a measly four

He had another ace high hand



(Repeat chorus)