From the musical “Fiorello”, 1959
Words by Sheldon Harnick
Music by Jerry Bock
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- Politics and poker, politics and poker
Shuffle up the cards and find the joker
Neither game’s for children; either game is rough
Decisions, decisions, like who to pick
How to play, what to bet, when to call a bluff
Interlude
King bets cost you five
Tony up to you
I’m in, so am I, likewise, me too
Gentlemen, here we are and one thing is clear
We gotta pick a candidate for congress this year
How’s about we should make Jack Riley the guy
Which Riley are you thinkin’ of Jack B. or Jack Y.
I way neither one, I never even met ’em
I say when you got a pair of jacks, bet ’em
- Politics and poker, politics and poker
Makes the average guy a heavy a smoker
Bless the nominee and give him our regards
And watch while he learns that in poker and politics
Brother, you’ve gotta have the cards
Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: