The Gambler

On a warm summer's eve On a train bound for nowhere I met up with the gambler We were both too tired to sleep So we took turns at starin' Out the window at the darkness The boredom overtook us And 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 (they held their eyes)" "So if you don't mind me sayin' I can see you're out of aces For a 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" You've 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 dealing's done Every gambler knows That the secret to survivin' Is knowin' what to throw away And knowin' what to keep ('Cause every) '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 toward 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 You've 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 dealing's done You've 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) and know when to run You never count your money (When you're) when you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' (When the dealin') when the dealing's done You've 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 dealing's done