On a warm summer's evenin'
On a train bound for no where
I met up with the gambler
We were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a starning'
Out the window at the darkness 'Til boredom over took us
And he began to speak
He said son
I've made life
Out of readin' people's faces
And knowin' what their 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
Ya 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 sittin' at the table
There'll be time 'nough 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 ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep
And when he'd finish speakin'
He turned back towards the window
Crushed out his cigarette
And faded off to sleep and somewhere in the darkness
The gambler he broken 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 sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin'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 sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin'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 sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done