The Gambler

On a warm summer's evening

On a train bound for nowhere

I met up with a gambler

We were both too tired to sleep

So, we took turns a-staring

Out the window at the darkness

'Til boredom overtook us

And he began to speak

He said, "Son, I've made a life

Out of reading people's faces

And knowing what their cards were

By the way they held their eyes

So, if you don't mind my saying

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 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 sitting at the table

There'll be time enough for counting

When the dealing's done

Every gambler knows

That the secret to surviving

Is knowing what to throw away

And knowing 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 speaking

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

But in his final words

I found an ace that I could keep

You 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 sitting at the table

There'll be time enough for counting

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 when to run

You never count your money

When you're sitting at the table

There'll be time enough for counting

When the dealing's done

You 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 sitting at the table

There'll be time enough for counting

When the dealing's done