The Gambler

[Verse 1]
On a warm summer's evenin', on a train bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler, we were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin' out the window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us, he began to speak

[Verse 2]
Said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces
Knowin' what the cards were by the way they held their eyes
So if you won't mind me sayin', I can see you're out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey, I'll give you somе advice"

[Verse 3]
So I handed him my bottle and hе drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light
And the night got deathly quiet and his face lost all expression
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right"

[Chorus]
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done

[Verse 4]
Every gambler knows that secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away, knowin' what to keep
'Cause every hand's a winner, every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep

[Verse 5]
When he'd finished speakin', he turned back toward the window
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler, he broke even
But in his final words, I found an ace that I could keep

[Chorus]
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done
You got to know when to hold 'em (When to hold 'em)
Know when to fold 'em (When to fold 'em)
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done