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
Said, “If you’re gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn
G
to play it right.
CHORUS:
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.
D 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.
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
Said, “If you’re gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn
G
to play it right.
CHORUS:
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.
D 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.
