[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 131 - Just bass drum] Chords --[F]------[Dm]------[Bb]---[C]----[F]- E -1--------5-----------------------1-- B -1----3-5-6-----5-4-3--3-4-5-5----1-- G -2----3-5-7-----5-4-3--3-4-5-5----2-- D -3----3-5-7-----5-4-3--3-4-5-5----3-- A -3----1-3-5-----3-2-1--1-2-3-3----3-- E -1---------------------------3-5--1--
[Pickup - drums in at end] Fxxx FxxBb xxxx Bbxxx x 2
[Verse - Full drums - Some fast strumming] [F] Don't go breaking my [Bb] heart [F] I couldn't if I [Bb] tried [F] Oh [A7] honey, if [Bb] I get [G/B] restless [F] Baby, you're not that [Bb] kind [F][Bb][F][Bb][C] (just bass drum) [F] Don't go breaking my [Bb] heart [F] You take the weight off of [Bb] me [F] Oh [A7] honey, when you [Bb] knock on my [G/B] door [F] Ooh, I gave you my [Bb] key [F][Bb] (A 013) [C]
[Chorus] [Am] Oooo-oooo... .... and nobody [Cm7] knows it But [Bb] when I was [F] down [C] I was your [G] clown [Am] Oooo-oooo... .... and nobody [Cm7] knows it (nobody knows) [Bb] Right from the [F] start I [C] gave you my [G] heart [Ab] Oooo- [C] oooh I gave you my [Bb] heart. (just bass drum) [F][Bb][F][Bb][C]
[F] So don't go breaking my [Dm] heart ...  [C][Bb] .. I won't go [C]breaking your [F] heart----- [C][Dm]------- [C][Bb] .... Don't go [C] breaking my [F] heart (drums stop - approx chord pattern) [F]xx[F][Bb]xx[Bb][F]xx[F][Bb]xxx
[Verse] [F] And nobody [Bb] told us [F] `Cause nobody [Bb] showed us [F] And [A7] now it's [Bb] up to [G/B] us babe [F] Oh I think we can [Bb] make it (just bass drum) [F][Bb][F][Bb][C] [F] So don't misunder [Bb] stand me [F] You put the light in my [Bb] life [F] Oh, you [A7] put the [Bb] spark to the [G/B] flame [F] I've got your heart in my [Bb] sights [F][Bb] (A 013) [C]
[Chorus] [Am] Oooo-oooo... .... and nobody [Cm7] knows it But [Bb] when I was [F] down [C] I was your [G] clown [Am] Oooo-oooo... .... and nobody [Cm7] knows it (nobody knows) [Bb] Right from the [F] start I [C] gave you my [G] heart [Ab] Oooo- [C] oooh I gave you my [Bb] heart. (just bass drum) [F][Bb][F][Bb][C]
[Bridge] [F] So don't go breaking my [Dm] heart [C][Bb] I won't go [C] breaking your [F] heart----- [C][Dm]------- [C][Bb] Don't go [C] breaking my [F] heart (just bass drum) [F]xx[F][Bb]xx[Bb][F]xx[F][Bb]xxx
[Instrumental] [F][Bb][F][Bb] [F][A7][Bb][G/B][F][Bb] [F][Bb] (A 013) [C]
[Chorus] [Am] Oooo-oooo... .... and nobody [Cm7] knows it But [Bb] when I was [F] down [C] I was your [G] clown [Bb] Right from the [F] start, I [C] gave you my [G] heart! [Ab] Oooo- [C] oooh I gave you my [Bb] heart.(just bass drum) [F][Bb][F][Bb][C]
[F] don't go breaking my [Dm] heart [C][Bb] I won't go [C] breaking your [Repeated til fade section] [F] heart-- [C][Dm] -------- [C][Bb] Don't go [C] breaking my [F] heart (BACK 3 LINES AND REPEAT TIL FADE)