On (G) warm Summer’s evening,

On a (C) train bound for (G) nowhere,

I (C) met up with a (G) gambler,

We were (C) both too tired to (D)sleep,

So (G) we took turns a starin’

Out the (C) window at the (G) darkness,

‘til (C) boredom over(G)took us (D) and he began to (G) speak.

He said “(G) Son I’ve made a life,

Out of (C) readin’ people’s (G)faces,

And (C) knowin’ what their (G) cards were

By the (C) way they held their (D) eyes,

And if (G) you don’t mind me sayin’, I can (C) see your out of (G) aces,

For a (C) taste of your (G) whiskey, I’ll (D) give you some (G) advice.”

So I (G) handed him my bottle, and he (C) drank down my last

(G) swallow,

(C) Then he bummed a (G) cigarette and (C) asked me for a (D) light,

And the (G) night got deadly quiet, and his (C) face lost all expre(G)ssion,

Said “If you’re (C) gonna to play the game (G) boy,

Ya gotten (D) learn to play it (G) right.”

CHORUS:

You gotta (G) know when to hold ‘em,

(C) know when to (G) fold ‘em,

(C) Know when to (G) walk away

(C) and know when to (D) run,

You never (G) count your money

When you’re (C) sittin’ at the (G)table,

There’ll be time (C) enough for (G) counting,

(D) when the dealings (G)done.

(G) Every gambler knows that the (C) secret to (G) survivin’,

Is (C)knowin’ what to (G) throw away (C) and knowin’ what to (D)keep,

‘Cause (G) every hand’s a winner and (C) every hand’s a (G)loser,

And the (C) best that you can (G) hope for,

Is to (D) die in your (G)sleep. CHORUS:

And (G) when he’d finished speakin’,

He (C) turned back towards the (G) window,

(C) Crushed out his (G) cigarette

And (C) faded off to (D)sleep,

And (G) somewhere in the darkness,

The (C) gambler he broke (G)even,

But (C) in his final (G) words I found,

An (D) ace that I could (G)keep. CHORUS: