DG/DD
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere
A
I met up with the gambler we were both too tired to sleep
DG/DD
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
G/DDAD
til boredom overtook us and he began to speak
DG/DD
He said Son I've made a life out of readin' people's faces
A
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes
DG/DD
And if you don't mind my sayin' I can see you're out of aces
G/DDAD
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice
DGD
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow
A
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light
DGD
And the night got deathly quiet and his face lost all expression
GDAD
Said If you're gonna play the game boy ya gotta learn to play it right
DGD
You got to know when to hold 'em know when to fold 'em
GDA
know when to walk away and know when to run
DEm/ADGD
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
GDAD
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done
[Slide capo to 2nd fret]
DGD
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
A
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep
DGD
Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser
GDAD
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep
DGD
And when he'd finished speakin' he turned back towards the window
A
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep
DGD
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler he broke even
GDAD
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep
DGD
You got to know when to hold 'em know when to fold 'em
GDA
know when to walk away and know when to run
DEm/ADGD
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
GDAD
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done
[Repeat Chorus once and end]
This arrangement for the song is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song. You may only use this for private study, scholarship, or research.