D G D
On a warm summerʼs eveninʼ on a train bound for nowhere,
G D A D
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
D G D
So we took turns a starinʼ out the window at the darkness
G D A D
ʼtil boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
D G D
He said, «Son, Iʼve made a life out of readinʼ peopleʼs faces,
G D A D
and knowinʼ what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
D G D
And if you donʼt mind my sayinʼ, I can see youʼre out of aces.
G D A D
For a taste of your whiskey Iʼll give you some advice.»
D G D
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
G D A D
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
D G D
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
G D A D
Said, «If youʼre gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.»
Chorus: D G D
You got to know when to hold ʼem, know when to fold ʼem,
G D A D
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D G D
You never count your money when youʼre sittinʼ at the table.
G D A D
Thereʼll be time enough for countinʼ when the dealinʼs done.
D G D
Evʼry gambler knows that the secret to survivinʼ
G D A D
is knowinʼ what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
D G D
ʼCause evʼry handʼs a winner and evʼry handʼs a loser,
G D A D
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.
D G D
And when heʼd finished speakinʼ, he turned back towards the window,
G D A D
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
D G D
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
G D A D
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
Chorus: D G D
You got to know when to hold ʼem, know when to fold ʼem,
G D A D
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D G D
You never count your money when youʼre sittinʼ at the table.
G D A D
Thereʼll be time enough for countinʼ when the dealinʼs done.
D G D
You got to know when to hold ʼem, know when to fold ʼem,
G D A D
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D G D
You never count your money when youʼre sittinʼ at the table.
G D A D
Thereʼll be time enough for countinʼ when the dealinʼs done.
D G D
You got to know when to hold ʼem, know when to fold ʼem,
G D A D
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D G D
You never count your money when youʼre sittinʼ at the table.
G D A D
Thereʼll be time enough for countinʼ when the dealinʼs done.
