On a warm summer's evening, On a train bound for 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 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 So if you don't mind my 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 [Chorus] 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 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'd finished speakin', He turned back toward the window Crushed out his cigarette, 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 3x] |