Dialectical Behavior Therapy Presents "DBT As Gambler" with Lyrics

"DBT As Gambler"

"DBT As Gambler" (to the tune of "The Gambler") was written by Charlie Swenson (2012) and performed by Charlie Swenson, Marsha Linehan, Helen Best, Shireen Rizvi, Melanie Harned, Adam Payne, Alec Miller, and Clive Robins at the annual ISITDBT conference in November 2013.  

Charlie Swenson and Shireen Rizvi performed the karaoke version of "The Gambler" after a long day of intensive training.  Swenson later wrote "DBT As Gambler" during a training in Maine. 

"DBT As Gambler" by Charlie Swenson (2012)

On a warm summer's evenin'
On my way back from treatment
I met up with a gambler
His game was DBT

We took turns a talkin'
'bout how things were goin'
Whether I was changin'
Through my therapy

He said, "Son I've made my life
Out of hearing people's stories
Seein' where they're stuck
And helpin' them to see,
So if you don't mind my sayin'
I can see you're goin' nowhere
If you give me some commitment
I'll try to set you free."

I knew he had me goin' 
When I gave him my commitment
That I would change my life
Instead of waitin' 'til I die
And the air grew very still
He sounded so irreverent,
Said, "if you want to fix your problems
Ya' got to look 'em in the eye."


Refrain
You've got to know when to solve 'em
Know when to soothe 'em
Know when to suck it up
And know when to run


You've never made no progress
Avoidin' all the struggles
You gotta sit down at the table
And join in on the fun


Now every gambler knows
The secret to effectiveness
Is knowin' when to validate
And knowin' when to fight
'Cause every day's a good one
And every day's a bad one
And the best you can hope for
Is to go to sleep each night.


So when he finished speakin'
And vanished into nowhere
I knew that he had dealt me
Some cards that I could play.
Now every time I hit a wall
And I think I'm goin' nowhere
I focus my attention
On the words I heard him say.

Refrain
You've got to know when to solve 'em
Know when to soothe 'em
Know when to suck it up
And know when to run


You've never made no progress
Avoidin' all the struggles
You gotta sit down at the table
And join in on the fun

Refrain (repeat)
You've got to know when to solve 'em
Know when to soothe 'em
Know when to suck it up
And know when to run


You've never made no progress
Avoidin' all the struggles
You gotta sit down at the table
And join in on the fun