[Verse - No drums] G C G On a warm summer's evening on a train bound for nowhere G G D I met up with a gambler, we were both too tired to speak G C G So we took turns a-starin' out the window at the darkness C G D7 G 'Til boredom overtook us and he began to speak. G C G He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces, G D Knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes, G C G And if you don't mind me sayin', I can see you're out of aces, C G D G And for a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
(bass drum on 2 and 4 to begin with - no snare) G C G So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow; G G D Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light, G C G And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression, C G D G ' said "If you're gon na play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
[Chorus - Half time shuffle] G C G You got to know when to hold 'em, Know when to fold 'em, C G D Know when to walk away And know when to run. G D G C G You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table; C G D G There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done.
[Verse] A D A Every gambler knows that the secret to survivin' A E Is knownin' what to throw away and knowin' what to keep A E A D A 'Cause every hand's a winner, and every hand's a loser, D A E A And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse] A D A And when he finished speakin', he turned back toward the window, A E Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep, (drums stop) A E A D A And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler, he broke even, D A E A But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus - Drums back in] A D A You got to know when to hold 'em, Know when to fold 'em, D A A E Know when to walk away And know when to run. A E A D A You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table; A D A E A There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done.
[Chorus] A D A You got to know when to hold 'em, Know when to fold 'em, D A A E Know when to walk away And know when to run. A E A D A You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table; A D A E A There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done.
[Chorus - A Cappella] A D A You got to know when to hold 'em, Know when to fold 'em, D A E Know when to walk away And know when to run. A E A D A You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table; A D A E A There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done.
[Intro - BPM 100 - No drums] [Bb/A][Bb/A][Fmaj7][Fmaj7] x 2 (hey now now etc)
[Verse 1 - Drums in] [Gm] Didn't know what time it was the lights were low-ow-ow. [F] I lean back on my radio-o-o [C] Some cat was laying down some [C7] rock'n'roll, 'Lotta soul' he said. [F][Ab][Bb] (coming back to Gm after this)
[Verse 2] [Gm] Then the loud sound did seem to fa-a-ade [F] Came back like a slow voice on a wave of pha-a-ase [C] That weren't no DJ that was [C7] hazy cosmic jive.
(Drums stop - hard strum) [A][G]
[Chorus - Drums back in] There's a [F] star [F] man [Dm] waiting in the sky He'd [Am] like to come and [C] meet us But he [C7] thinks he'd blow our minds. There's a [F] star [F] man [Dm] waiting in the sky He's [Am] told us not to [C] blow it 'Cause he [C7] knows it's all worthwhile,
He told me, [Bb] Let the [Bbm] children lose it [F] let the [D7] children use it [Gm] Let all the [C] children boogie
[Interlude - Solo] [Bb][F][C][F] - [Bb][F][C] (drop final bar)
[Verse 3] [Gm] Well I had to phone someone so I picked on you-ou-ou [F] Hey that's far out, so you heard him too-oo-oo [C] Switch on the TV we may [C7] pick him up on Channel 2 [F][Ab][Bb]
[Verse 4] [Gm] Look out your window I can see his li-i-ight, [F] If we can sparkle he may land toni-i-ight, [C] Don't tell your papa or he'll [C7] get us locked up in fright
(Drums stop - hard strum) [A][G]
[Chorus] There's a [F] star [F] man [Dm] waiting in the sky He'd [Am] like to come and [C] meet us But he [C7] thinks he'd blow our minds. There's a [F] star [F] man [Dm] waiting in the sky He's [Am] told us not to [C] blow it 'Cause he [C7] knows it's all worthwhile,
He told me, [Bb] Let the [Bbm] children lose it [F] let the [D7] children use it [Gm] Let all the [C] children boogie
[F] Star [F] man [Dm] waiting in the sky He'd [Am] like to come and [C] meet us But he [C7] thinks he'd blow our minds. There's a [F] star [F] man [Dm] waiting in the sky He's [Am] told us not to [C] blow it 'Cause he [C7] knows it's all worthwhile,
He told me, [Bb] Let the [Bbm] children lose it [F] let the [D7] children use it [Gm] Let all the [C] children boogie
[Outro] [Bb][F][C][F] [Bb] La la la la [F] la, la la la [C] la, la la la [F] la, la la la la [Bb] La la la la [F] la, la la la [C] la, la la la [F] la, la la la la [Bb] La la la la [F] la, la la la [C] la, la la la [F] la, la la la la [Bb] La la la la [F] la, la la la [C] la, la la la [F] la, la la la la