"Runner Runner" (c) 2006
Words music vocals & piano: Lance Frank. Guitar and bass: Mark Linford. Drums: Ed Genovese. Produced by Lance Frank & Ed Genovese
Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and a host of other early rockers are an obvious inspiration for this tune along with an Allman Brothers rendition of Elmore James' "I must have done somebody wrong." I was actually introduced to Chuck Berry when I was a teenager by my friend Lewis Nathan. Something must have worn off when I shook his hand! I was hoping the tune would get picked up by some famous artist to become the next "The Gambler" by Kenny Rodgers, but that hasn't happened...yet!
Among the many sports, recreation and entertainment venues here in the Coachella Valley there are numerous Tribal Gaming Casinos. Some of them have poker rooms where the form of the game known as "Texas Hold 'em" is popular. Here at least, the last two cards dealt face up are known as "Runner" cards. If a player starts with the best hand and survives several rounds of betting only to lose because these two cards made another player's hand better, the looser will often mutter "Runner Runner."
I suspect the term originated from the common practice of going "All In" before the last two cards are dealt. All In means all players have put all their chips in the pot and there will be no more betting. The players then instruct the dealer to "run 'em," Hence the term "Runner Runner," each of the last two cards being a runner card.
There are many more subtleties to the game and the slang terms used to describe them mentioned in the song. Here are just a few. If you are curious about the others, feel free to contact me. I'd love to teach you the game!
- The first two cards dealt face down are known as “Pocket Cards”
- Two Aces dealt face down are known as “Pocket Rockets” or “American Airlines.”
(Usually considered the best possible hand to start with)
- The "Nuts" is a term used to refer to a hand that appears to be unbeatable.
- The first four cards dealt face up are called “The Flop”
- The 5th card dealt face up is called “The Turn”
- The last card dealt face up is called “The River”
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