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
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
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
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 sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin'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 dealin's done
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