Verse 1DG/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.
Verse 2DG/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."
Verse 3DGD
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.
Verse 4DGD
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]
Verse 5]
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."
Verse 6]
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.
Verse 7]
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.