Track 6 from their fifth album “The Turn of a Friendly Card” copyright 1980 Arista Records and recorded at Acousti Studios in Paris. The theme of the album is gambling. It featured Eric Woolfson’s debut as a lead vocalist on his compositions “Time” & “Nothing Left to Lose.” “The Gold Bug” written by Parsons is named after the short story by Edgar Allan Poe. The album received average reviews at the time but retrospective reviews have been excellent. It reached the Top 20 on the album charts in numerous countries, selling more than two million copies worldwide. It achieved 2X Platinum status in Canada, Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in Germany, the Netherlands & New Zealand. Written by Eric Woolfson & Alan Parsons and produced by Alan Parsons. RIP Eric Woolfson, Chris Rainbow & Elmer Gantry. Featuring:

Alan Parsons – Projectron, Clavinet, harpsichord, whistling & finger snaps, additional vocals on “Time”
Eric Woolfson – Piano & harpsichord, lead vocals on “Time” & “Nothing Left to Lose”
Special Guests:
Ian Bairnson – Lead, rhythm, acoustic & classical guitars, pedal steel on “Time”
David Paton – Bass
Stuart Elliot – Drums & percussion
Chris Rainbow – Background vocals, lead vocals on “The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 1,” “Snake Eyes” & “The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 2”
Lenny Zakatek – Background vocals, lead vocals on “Games People Play” & “I Don’t Wanna Go Home”
Elmer Gantry – Lead vocal on “May Be a Price to Pay”
Andrew Powell – Conductor & orchestral arrangements
The Philharmonia Orchestra – Orchestra

i The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 1
There are unsmiling faces and bright plastic chains and a wheel in perpetual motion
And they follow the races and pay out the gains with no show of an outward emotion

And they think it will make their lives easier, for God knows up till now it's been hard
But the game never ends when your whole world depends on the turn of a friendly card
No, the game never ends when your whole world depends on the turn of a friendly card

There's a sign in the desert that lies to the west where you can't tell the night from the sunrise
And not all the King's horses and all the King's men have prevented the fall of the unwise

For they think it will make their lives easier and God knows up till now it's been hard
But the game never ends when your whole world depends on the turn of a friendly card
No, the game never ends when your whole world depends on the turn of a friendly card
But a pilgrim must follow in search of a shrine as he enters inside the cathedral

ii Snake Eyes
(Snake eyes, seven eleven, don't let me down boys, gimme)
(Snake eyes, seven eleven, don't let me down tonight)
(No, don't let me down tonight)

Just one minute more, gimme just one minute more
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be (alright)
Just one minute more, then I'll walk right through that door
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be (alright if ya gimme)

(Snake eyes, seven eleven, don't let me down now, gimme)
(Snake eyes, seven eleven, don't let me down tonight)
(No, don't let me down tonight)

Just one minute more, gimme just one minute more
It's gonna be alright, It's gonna be (alright but you gotta)

Gimme one minute more, gimme one more, gimme one minute more
It's gonna be alright, It's gonna be (alright)

(Snake eyes, seven eleven, don't let me down boys)
(Snake eyes, seven eleven, don't let me down tonight)
(No, don't let me down tonight)

Just one minute more, then I'll walk right through that door
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be (alright but you gotta)
Gimme one marker more, then I'll walk right through that door
Gimme one more, don't let me down
It's gonna be (alright, alright, alright)

iii The Ace of Swords (instrumental)

iv Nothing Left to Lose
Nothing's good, the news is bad, the heat goes on and it drives you mad
Scornful thoughts that fly your way, you should turn away 'cause there's nothing more to say

You gave the best you had to give, you only have one life to live
You fought so hard, you were a slave, after all you gave there was nothing left to save

You've got nothin' left to lose (you've got nothin' left to lose)
No, you've got nothin' left to lose (who'd wanna be standing in your shoes?)

You read the book, you turn the page, you change your life in a thousand ways
The dawn of reason lights your eyes, with the key you realize, to the kingdom of the wise

You've got nothin' left to lose (you've got nothin' left to lose)
No, you've got nothin' left to lose (who'd wanna be standing in your shoes?)

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, no more lingering doubt remains
Nothing sacred or profane, everything to gain
'Cause you've nothing left

v The Turn of a Friendly Card, Pt. 2
There are unsmiling faces in fetters and chains on a wheel in perpetual motion
Who belong to all races and answer all names with no show of an outward emotion

And they think it will make their lives easier but the doorway before them is barred
And the game never ends when your whole world depends...