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