The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
[intro]
[C]
On a [C] warm summer's evenin' on a [F] train bound for [C] nowhere,
I [F]met up with the [C] gambler; we were both too tired to [G7] sleep.
So [C] we took turns a starin' out the [F] window at the [C] darkness
'til [F] boredom over [C] took us, and [G7] he began to [C] speak.
He said, [C] "Son, I've made a life out of [F] readin' people's [C] faces,
and [F] knowin' what their [C] cards were by the way they held their [G7] eyes.
And if [C] you don't mind my sayin', I can [F] see you're out of [C] aces.
For a [F] taste of your [C] whiskey I'll [G7] give you some [C] advice."
So I [C] handed him my bottle
and he [F] drank down my last [C] swallow.
Then he [F]bummed a cigarette and [C]asked me for a [G7] light.
And the [C] night got deathly quiet,
and his [F] face lost all ex[C]pression.
Said, "If you're [F] gonna play the [C] game, boy,
ya gotta [G7] learn to play it [C] right.
You got to [C] know when to hold 'em, [F] know when to [C] fold 'em,
[F] know when to [C] walk away and know when to [G7] run.
You never [C] count your money when you're [F] sittin' at the [C] table.
There'll be [F] time enough for [C] countin' [G7] when the dealin's [C] done.
[C] Ev'ry gambler knows that the [F] secret to surv[C]ivin'
is [F] knowin' what to [C]throw away and knowing what to [G7] keep.
'Cause [C] ev'ry hand's a winner and [F] ev'ry hand's a [C] loser,
and the [F] best that you can [C] hope for is to [G7] die in your [C] sleep."
And [C] when he'd finished speakin', he [F] turned back towards the [C] window,
[F] crushed out his [C] cigarette and faded off to [G7] sleep.
And [C] somewhere in the darkness the [F] gambler, he broke [C] even.
But [F] in his final [C] words I found an [G7] ace that I could [C] keep.
You got to [C] know when to hold 'em, [F] know when to [C] fold 'em,
[F] know when to [C] walk away and know when to [G7] run.
You never [C] count your money when you're [F] sittin' at the [C] table.
There'll be [F] time enough for [C] countin' [G7] when the dealin's [C] done.
You got to [C] know when to hold 'em, [F] know when to [C] fold 'em,
[F] know when to [C] walk away and know when to [G7] run.
You never [C] count your money when you're [F] sittin' at the [C] table.
There'll be [F] time enough for [C] countin' [G7] when the dealin's [C] done.
Outro
There'll be [F] time enough for [C] countin' [G7] when the dealin's [C] done.
intro
C
On a C warm summer's evenin' on a F train bound for C nowhere,
I Fmet up with the C gambler; we were both too tired to G7 sleep.
So C we took turns a starin' out the F window at the C darkness
'til F boredom over C took us, and G7 he began to C speak.
He said, C "Son, I've made a life out of F readin' people's C faces,
and F knowin' what their C cards were by the way they held their G7 eyes.
And if C you don't mind my sayin', I can F see you're out of C aces.
For a F taste of your C whiskey I'll G7 give you some C advice."
So I C handed him my bottle
and he F drank down my last C swallow.
Then he Fbummed a cigarette and Casked me for a G7 light.
And the C night got deathly quiet,
and his F face lost all exCpression.
Said, "If you're F gonna play the C game, boy,
ya gotta G7 learn to play it C right.
You got to C know when to hold 'em, F know when to C fold 'em,
F know when to C walk away and know when to G7 run.
You never C count your money when you're F sittin' at the C table.
There'll be F time enough for C countin' G7 when the dealin's C done.
C Ev'ry gambler knows that the F secret to survCivin'
is F knowin' what to Cthrow away and knowing what to G7 keep.
'Cause C ev'ry hand's a winner and F ev'ry hand's a C loser,
and the F best that you can C hope for is to G7 die in your C sleep."
And C when he'd finished speakin', he F turned back towards the C window,
F crushed out his C cigarette and faded off to G7 sleep.
And C somewhere in the darkness the F gambler, he broke C even.
But F in his final C words I found an G7 ace that I could C keep.
You got to C know when to hold 'em, F know when to C fold 'em,
F know when to C walk away and know when to G7 run.
You never C count your money when you're F sittin' at the C table.
There'll be F time enough for C countin' G7 when the dealin's C done.
You got to C know when to hold 'em, F know when to C fold 'em,
F know when to C walk away and know when to G7 run.
You never C count your money when you're F sittin' at the C table.
There'll be F time enough for C countin' G7 when the dealin's C done.
Outro
There'll be F time enough for C countin' G7 when the dealin's C done.