[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 - Capo 3 for original key but don't bother] [F][C][Dm][C] [Bb][C][F] (Hold last F for a whole bar)
[Verse 1] [Gm] When are you gonna come down [C] [F] When are you going to land [Bb] I [Gm] should have stayed on the [C] farm, should have [F] Listened to my old man [F] .. You [Gm] know you can't hold me for [C] ever .. I [F] didn't sign up with you [Bb] I'm not [Eb] a present for your [C] friends to open This boy [F] 's too young to be [F] singing The
[Db]blues. ooh [Eb]ooh .. [Ab]la la la la [Db]la.... [Bbm] Ah..ah [C7]Ah....
[Chorus] So [F] goodbye yellow brick [A7] road .. Where the [Bb] dogs of society [F] howl .. You [D7] can't plant me in your [Gm] penthouse .. I'm [C] going back to my [F] plough [Dm] Back to the howling old [A] owl in the woods [Bb] Hunting the horny black [Db] toad [Db] Oh [Eb] I've [F] finally [C/E] decided my [Dm] future lies [Dm/C] ... Be [Bb] yond the [C] yellow brick
[Db]ro oh [Eb]oad .. [Ab]la la la la [Db]la.... [Bbm]Ah..ah [C7]Ah.... [F] Ah......
[Pause] [Verse 2] [Gm] What do you think you'll do [C] then? .. I [F] bet they'll shoot down the plane [Bb] .. It'll [Gm] take you a couple of [C] vodka and tonics .. to [F] set you on your feet again [F] [Gm] Maybe you'll get a re [C] placement .. There's [F] plenty like me to be [Bb] found [Eb] Mongrels who [C] ain't got a penny [F] Sniffing for tidbits like you [F] On the
[Db]gra ow [Eb]ound .. [Ab]la la la la [Db]la.... [Bbm]Ah..ah [C7]Ah....
[Chorus] So [F] goodbye yellow brick [A7] road .. Where the [Bb] dogs of society [F] howl .. You [D7] can't plant me in your [Gm] penthouse .. I'm [C] going back to my [F] plough [Dm] Back to the howling old [A] owl in the woods [Bb] Hunting the horny black [Db] toad [Db] Oh [Eb] I've [F] finally [C/E] decided my [Dm] future lies [Dm/C] ... Be [Bb] yond the [C] yellow brick [Db]ro oh [Eb]oad .. [Ab]la la la la [Db]la.... [Bbm]Ah..ah [C7]Ah.... [F] Ah......
