The Gambler
(D. Schlitz / K. Rogers - Arr.: Ko-Do)



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

He 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 don't mind my sayin' I can see you're out of aces
For the taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice"

So I handed him my bottle and he 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've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away, 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

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

And when he finished speakin' he turned back to the window
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler he broke even
And in his final words I found an ace that I could keep

Chorus