Perhaps, like me, the title\u2019s the only part of the song to which you can\ncomfortably sing along, or ever really paid much attention to (sorry to all you\ndiehard Mot\u00f6rhead fans!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take another listen though and the fast-living rhetoric of the gambling\nthrill is all over the song, with special mention to this \u201cdead man\u2019s hand\nagain\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So Where Did This All Begin?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere are many thoughts and theories on how the highest-valued card\nbecame synonymous with death, but regardless of its origins, it seems to be\nwell and truly established in the superstitious hearts and minds the world\nover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But let\u2019s go further back and explore some of the history that gives\nthis fated card its doom status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Way back in medieval times, when blacksmiths made armor and weaponry, to\nprovide some mark of quality they often stamped their work with the Ace of Spades.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given the usage of their ware, this ominous link with the symbol led to\nits association with death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the 1700s, stamp duty was extended by Queen Anne, in England, to\ninclude playing cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To indicate that this tax had been paid the Ace of Spades, with its\nornate insignia, was to be signed by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The signing process was time-consuming and costly – hiking up the price\nof the deck by up to 12 times as much! – so people began faking their own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This, of course, carried a big risk. Producing counterfeit cards was a\ncapital offence resulting in death by hanging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You fake an Ace of Spades stamp, you get caught, you die. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As such, the Ace of Spades spelled out death to many people and this\nconnotation was hard to shake off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the 18th Century it was a favorite amongst pirates to let a traitor\nor informer know he was nearing his end; that he was \u2018on the spot\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It came a close second after the skull and cross bones as a symbol of\nintimidation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there\u2019s the design of the card itself – for some people the spade\nrepresents the tool used to dig your grave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And since the Ace card carries the highest value, it will get your\ncoffin dug deepest in the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the deck comprising of 52 cards, it\u2019s believed that each card\nrepresents a week in the year, and each suit a season. The spades represent\nwinter and the Ace heralds the Week of Yule, the death of the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mere pawns in the game of nature, try as we might, we cannot escape\nthe death cycle and the card\u2019s place in the calendar is a reminder of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The beginning of winter was a time feared and dreaded by members of\npoorer classes as it meant the start of the struggle through to spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will there be enough food? Will we stay warm enough? Many families\nsuffered death through famine and freezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the lawless days of the Wild West, Wild Bill Hickock immortalized the \u2018dead man\u2019s hand\u2019<\/a> when he was shot through the head at point blank range by Jack McCall seeking vengeance for a loss at cards a few days earlier. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHe died instantly, slumping over the table where he was playing poker,\nwith his cards still in his hand, now spattered with blood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what was he holding? A mixture of black aces and eights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet again the Ace of Spades strikes, with death following its presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Vietnamese War<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Ace](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ace_of_spades_1-1024x768.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are a couple of theories surrounding the use of the Ace of Spades\nduring combat in the Vietnamese War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first theory is that the Americans believed the Vietnamese to be\nhighly superstitious, and that the Ace of Spades struck the fear of death in\ntheir hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was rumored that the European associations with the card hit the\nVietnamese even harder due to struggles faced during the colonial time under\nFrench rule across six decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So for the Vietnamese people, this symbol allegedly spelled cruelty\nunder foreign control and influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This rumor apparently spread fast and armed with this knowledge,\nAmerican soldiers wanted to use the symbol as a form of intimidation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1966, following a request from the 25th Infantry Division, the\nCincinnati-based US Playing Card Co. donated and posted 1,000 decks of cards,\ncomprized solely of Aces of Spades, to troops stationed in Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The media back in the States got hold of the story and amped up the\nrumor, saying the Viet Cong feared the card more than the bombers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It turns out, in fact, that the cards acted more as a morale boost to\nthe Americans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stuck onto helmets, carried around in pockets, and left in situ after battle. Almost like a lucky charm<\/a>, the cards made some of the soldiers feel stronger and like a warrior. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was a tremendously difficult time for all involved and this offered\nsome American soldiers a bit of encouragement out in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It became a practice amongst some American soldiers to leave the card on\nthe eyes of a dead Vietnamese soldier so that it would be the last thing they\nsaw, or in their mouths as a warning to other enemy soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other accounts it\u2019s thought that to the Vietnamese it wasn\u2019t so much\na symbol of death but a phallic symbol, and that this in turn could\u2019ve led them\nto believe the Americans to be necrophiliacs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It certainly had the effect of clearing space for you in a bar, or\nscaring off any potential romantic partners, according to Captain Edward N.\nVoke of the 6th PSYOP Battalion in 1966. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was curious about the reaction amongst locals so asked his platoon to\ncasually pull them out in social settings. It did, indeed, appear to spook\npeople. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But then again, if a foreign soldier brought out a well-known symbol\nassociated only with negative connotations wouldn\u2019t you stay away?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And on the flip side, other theories claim to have never even heard of\nor seen the Ace of Spades being used in any way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s thought that any ideas behind the card being effective against the\n\u2018superstitious\u2019 Viet Cong stems from ignorance and racism on the American side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to Francis Ford Coppola film, Apocalypse Now<\/em>, the card became a\nsymbol of the war itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd What About Today?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Ace](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ace_of_spades_3-1024x768.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn a more modern context, the Ace of Spades and pop culture have a long\nand exciting relationship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s very often used in association with rock music and motorcycle\nculture – there\u2019s nothing cooler than danger, and there\u2019s nothing more\ndangerous than death – two big facets of these cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He died instantly, slumping over the table where he was playing poker,\nwith his cards still in his hand, now spattered with blood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what was he holding? A mixture of black aces and eights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet again the Ace of Spades strikes, with death following its presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Vietnamese War<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are a couple of theories surrounding the use of the Ace of Spades\nduring combat in the Vietnamese War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first theory is that the Americans believed the Vietnamese to be\nhighly superstitious, and that the Ace of Spades struck the fear of death in\ntheir hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was rumored that the European associations with the card hit the\nVietnamese even harder due to struggles faced during the colonial time under\nFrench rule across six decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So for the Vietnamese people, this symbol allegedly spelled cruelty\nunder foreign control and influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This rumor apparently spread fast and armed with this knowledge,\nAmerican soldiers wanted to use the symbol as a form of intimidation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1966, following a request from the 25th Infantry Division, the\nCincinnati-based US Playing Card Co. donated and posted 1,000 decks of cards,\ncomprized solely of Aces of Spades, to troops stationed in Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The media back in the States got hold of the story and amped up the\nrumor, saying the Viet Cong feared the card more than the bombers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It turns out, in fact, that the cards acted more as a morale boost to\nthe Americans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stuck onto helmets, carried around in pockets, and left in situ after battle. Almost like a lucky charm<\/a>, the cards made some of the soldiers feel stronger and like a warrior. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was a tremendously difficult time for all involved and this offered\nsome American soldiers a bit of encouragement out in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It became a practice amongst some American soldiers to leave the card on\nthe eyes of a dead Vietnamese soldier so that it would be the last thing they\nsaw, or in their mouths as a warning to other enemy soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other accounts it\u2019s thought that to the Vietnamese it wasn\u2019t so much\na symbol of death but a phallic symbol, and that this in turn could\u2019ve led them\nto believe the Americans to be necrophiliacs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It certainly had the effect of clearing space for you in a bar, or\nscaring off any potential romantic partners, according to Captain Edward N.\nVoke of the 6th PSYOP Battalion in 1966. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was curious about the reaction amongst locals so asked his platoon to\ncasually pull them out in social settings. It did, indeed, appear to spook\npeople. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But then again, if a foreign soldier brought out a well-known symbol\nassociated only with negative connotations wouldn\u2019t you stay away?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And on the flip side, other theories claim to have never even heard of\nor seen the Ace of Spades being used in any way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s thought that any ideas behind the card being effective against the\n\u2018superstitious\u2019 Viet Cong stems from ignorance and racism on the American side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to Francis Ford Coppola film, Apocalypse Now<\/em>, the card became a\nsymbol of the war itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd What About Today?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn a more modern context, the Ace of Spades and pop culture have a long\nand exciting relationship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s very often used in association with rock music and motorcycle\nculture – there\u2019s nothing cooler than danger, and there\u2019s nothing more\ndangerous than death – two big facets of these cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are a couple of theories surrounding the use of the Ace of Spades\nduring combat in the Vietnamese War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first theory is that the Americans believed the Vietnamese to be\nhighly superstitious, and that the Ace of Spades struck the fear of death in\ntheir hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was rumored that the European associations with the card hit the\nVietnamese even harder due to struggles faced during the colonial time under\nFrench rule across six decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So for the Vietnamese people, this symbol allegedly spelled cruelty\nunder foreign control and influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This rumor apparently spread fast and armed with this knowledge,\nAmerican soldiers wanted to use the symbol as a form of intimidation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1966, following a request from the 25th Infantry Division, the\nCincinnati-based US Playing Card Co. donated and posted 1,000 decks of cards,\ncomprized solely of Aces of Spades, to troops stationed in Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The media back in the States got hold of the story and amped up the\nrumor, saying the Viet Cong feared the card more than the bombers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It turns out, in fact, that the cards acted more as a morale boost to\nthe Americans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stuck onto helmets, carried around in pockets, and left in situ after battle. Almost like a lucky charm<\/a>, the cards made some of the soldiers feel stronger and like a warrior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a tremendously difficult time for all involved and this offered\nsome American soldiers a bit of encouragement out in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It became a practice amongst some American soldiers to leave the card on\nthe eyes of a dead Vietnamese soldier so that it would be the last thing they\nsaw, or in their mouths as a warning to other enemy soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other accounts it\u2019s thought that to the Vietnamese it wasn\u2019t so much\na symbol of death but a phallic symbol, and that this in turn could\u2019ve led them\nto believe the Americans to be necrophiliacs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It certainly had the effect of clearing space for you in a bar, or\nscaring off any potential romantic partners, according to Captain Edward N.\nVoke of the 6th PSYOP Battalion in 1966. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He was curious about the reaction amongst locals so asked his platoon to\ncasually pull them out in social settings. It did, indeed, appear to spook\npeople. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But then again, if a foreign soldier brought out a well-known symbol\nassociated only with negative connotations wouldn\u2019t you stay away?<\/p>\n\n\n\n And on the flip side, other theories claim to have never even heard of\nor seen the Ace of Spades being used in any way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s thought that any ideas behind the card being effective against the\n\u2018superstitious\u2019 Viet Cong stems from ignorance and racism on the American side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to Francis Ford Coppola film, Apocalypse Now<\/em>, the card became a\nsymbol of the war itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a more modern context, the Ace of Spades and pop culture have a long\nand exciting relationship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s very often used in association with rock music and motorcycle\nculture – there\u2019s nothing cooler than danger, and there\u2019s nothing more\ndangerous than death – two big facets of these cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd What About Today?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
![\"Ace](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/ace_of_spades_patch..png\")