[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.
[Verse] [E] Don't you feel it growin', day by [A] day [E] People gettin' ready for the [C#m] new Some are [B] happy, some are s [A] a [A] Oh, we got to let the music |E | A | / / / / / / / / play mm mm
[E] What the people need Is a way to make 'em s [A] mile [E] It ain't so hard to do if you know [C#m] how Gotta get a [B] message Get it on [A] through Oh now mama, don't you ask me [E] why
[Chorus] Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music All the [F#m] tiiii- i-i- [A] iiime
[Verse] [E] Well I know, you know better Everything I [A] say [E] Meet me in the country for a [C#m] day We'll be [B] happy And we'll [A] da-a-ance [A] Oh, we're gonna dance our blues
|E | A | / / / / / / / / away [E] And if I'm feelin' good to you And you're feelin' good to [A] m [E] There ain't nothin' we can't do or [C#m] sa Feelin' [B] good, feeling [A] fine [A] Oh, baby, let the music [E] play
[Chorus] Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music All the [F#m] tiiii- i-i- [A] iiime
[Bridge] [E] Like a lazy flowing r [D/E] ive [A/E] Surrounding castles in the [E] sky [E] And the crowd is growing [D/E] bigger [A] List'nin' for the happy sounds [A] And I got to let them fly
[Chorus] Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music All the [F#m] tiiii- i-i- [A] iiime
Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music All the [F#m] tiiii- i-i- [A] iiime
Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music Whoa oh [C#m7] whoaaa listen to the [A] music All the [F#m] tiiii- i-i- [A] iiime (fade)