Verse 1
On a [G]warm summer's evenin' on a [C]train bound for [G]nowhere,
I [C]met up with the [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]overtook us, [D]and he began to [G]speak.
Verse 2
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 my sayin', I can [C]see you're out of [G]aces.
For a [C]taste of your [G]whiskey I'll [D]give you some [G]advice."
Verse 3
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 deathly quiet, and his [C]face lost all expr[G]expression.
Said, "If you're [C]gonna play the game, [G]boy, ya gotta [D]learn to play it [G]right.
Chorus
You got to [G]know when to hold 'em,[C]'em, 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]countin' [D]when the dealin's [G]done.
Verse 4
[D]Ev'ry gambler knows that the [C]secret to surv[G]survivin'
is [C]knowin' what to[G]to throw away [C]and knowing what to [D]keep.
'Cause [G]ev'ry hand's a winner and [C]ev'ry hand's a [G]loser,
and the [C]best that you can [G]hope for is to [D]die in your [G]sleep."
Verse 5
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
You got to [G]know when to hold 'em,[C]'em, 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]countin' [D]when the dealin's [G]done.