Tuning D# G# C# F# A# d#
Verse
E A E
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
E B7
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
E A E
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
B7 E
'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
verse 2
E A E
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
B7
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
E A E
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
A E B7 E
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
verse 3
E A E
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
B7
Then he bummed a cigarette, and asked me for a light.
E A E
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
A E B7 E
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
E A E
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
A E B7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
E A E A E
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
A E B7 E
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
verse 4 (Key change)
F Bb F
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
C7
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
F Bb F
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
Bb F C7 F
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
Verse 5
F Bb F
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
C7
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
F Bb F
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
Bb F C7 F
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
F Bb F
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Bb F C7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
F Bb F Bb F
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
Bb F C7 F
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.