The Gambler
Kenny Rogers
(Capo 1st Fret)
On a [D] warm summer's evening [G] on a train [D] bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler, we were both too tired to [A] speak
So [D] we took turns a-starin' out the [G] window at the [D] darkness
'Til [G/D] boredom overtook [D] us [A] and he began to [D] speak.
He said, [D] "Son, I've made a life out of [G] readin' people's [D] faces,
Knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their [A] eyes,
And if [D] you don't mind me sayin', I can [G] see you're out of [D] aces,
And for a [G/D] taste of your [D] whiskey I'll [A] give you some [D] advice."
So I [D] handed him my bottle and he [G] drank down my last [D] swallow;
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a [A] light,
And the [D] night got deathly quiet, and his [G] face lost all expres [D] sion,
' said "If you're [G] gonna play the game, [D] boy, ya gotta [A] learn to play it [D] right.
Chorus:
You got to [D] know when to hold 'em, [G] Know when to [D] fold 'em,
[G] Know when to [D] walk away And know when to [A] run.
You never [D] count your money When you're [G] sittin' at the [D] table;
There'll be time [G] enough for [D] countin' [A] When the dealin's [D] done.
(Slid Capo To 2nd Fret)
[D] Every gambler knows that the [G] secret to [D] survivin'
Is knownin' what to throw away and knowin' what to [A] keep
'Cause [D] every hand's a winner, and [G] ev' ry hand's a [D] loser,
And the [G] best that you can [D] hope for is to [A] die in your [D] sleep."
And [D] when he finished speakin', he [G] turned back toward the [D] window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to [A] sleep,
And [D] somewhere in the darkness, the [G] gambler, he broke [D] even,
But [G] in his final [D] words I found an [A] ace that I could [D] keep.
Chorus:
Chorus:
You got to [D] know when to hold 'em, [G] Know when to [D] fold 'em,
[G] Know when to [D] walk away And know when to [A] run.
You never [D] count your money When you're [G] sittin' at the [D] table;
There'll be time [G] enough for [D] countin' [A] When the dealin's [D] done.
(
geocities.com/stfarrer)