GCG
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
CGCD
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
GCG
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
CGDG
'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
[Verse 2]
GCG
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
CGCD
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
GCG
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
CGDG
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
[Verse 3]
GCG
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
CGCD
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
GCG
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
CGDG
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
[Chorus]
GCG
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
CGCD
know when to walk away and know when to run.
GCG
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
CGDG
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
[Verse 4] (transpose +1 here if you want to play it correctly)
GCG
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
CGCD
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
GCG
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
CGDG
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse 5]
GCG
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
CGCD
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
GCG
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
CGDG
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus]
GCG
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
CGCD
know when to walk away and know when to run.
GCG
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
CGDG
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
GCG
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
CGCD
know when to walk away and know when to run.
GCG
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
CGDG
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
GCG
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
CGCD
know when to walk away and know when to run.
GCG
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
CGDG
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.