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