Nortabs

G
On a warm summer's eve

On a train bound for nowhere

I met up with the gambler
                          D
We were both too tired to sleep
      G
So we took turns a-starin'
C              G             C
Out the window at the darkness
            G             D
The boredom overtook us, 
    G
And he began to speak

G
He said, "Son, I've made a life
C                       G
Out of readin' people's faces

Knowin' what the cards were
                           D
By the way they held their eyes
   G                    
So if you don't mind me sayin'
      C                 G
I can see you're out of aces
      C             G
For a taste of your whiskey
     D             G
I'll give you some advice"

G
So I handed him my bottle
    C                     G
And he drank down my last swallow

Then he bummed a cigarette
                   D
And asked me for a light
        G
And the night got deathly quiet
        C             G
And his face lost all expression
                    C              G
He said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy
          D                G
You gotta learn to play it right

G
You've got to know when to hold 'em
C            G
Know when to fold 'em
C            G
Know when to walk away
                 D
And know when to run
          G
You never count your money
            C              G
When you're sittin' at the table
     
There'll be time enough for counting
D                 G
When the dealin's done

A
Every gambler knows
         D         A
That the secret to survivin'

Is knowin' what to throw away
                    E
And knowin' what to keep
       A
'Cause every hand's a winner
    D              A
And every hand's a loser
        D                 A              E
And the best that you can hope for is to die
        A
In your sleep

A
And when he finished speakin'
   D                      A
He turned back toward the window

Crushed out his cigarette
                 E
And faded off to sleep
    A
And somewhere in the darkness
    D                A
The gambler he broke even
    D            A
But in his final words
           E                A
I found an ace that I could keep

A
You've got to know when to hold 'em
D            A
Know when to fold 'em
D            A
Know when to walk away
                 E
And know when to run
          D          A
You never count your money
            D              A
When you're sittin' at the table
            D               A
There'll be time enough for countin'
E                 A
When the dealin's done

A
You've got to know when to hold 'em (when to hold 'em)
D            A
Know when to fold 'em (when to fold 'em)

Know when to walk away
                 Dbm
And know when to run
          Bm         A
You never count your money
            D              A
When you're sittin' at the table
            D               F#
There'll be time enough for countin'
Em                A
When the dealin's done

A
You've got to know when to hold 'em
D            A
Know when to fold 'em
D            A
Know when to walk away
                 E
And know when to run
          D          A
You never count your money
            D              A
When you're sittin' at the table
            D               A
There'll be time enough for countin'
E                 A
When the dealin's done