[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 1 - BPM 137] [Gm7] She packed by bag last night, [C9] preflight, [Gm7] Zero hour, nine a. [C9]m. [Eb] And I'm gonna be [Bb/D] high [Cm] igh [Cm7/Bb] igh As a kite by [F/A] then (repeat F/A at 5th fret) [Gm7] I miss the earth so much I [C9] miss my wife [Gm7] It's lonely out in space [C9] [Eb] On such a [Bb/D] time i i i i i [Cm] ime less flight [Cm7/Bb] [F/A][F/C][F][Eb9-668866] (at 7th fret whole barre)
[Chorus - Play Bb at 6th fret - stay in that area] [Bb] And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time [Eb] 'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find [Bb] I'm not the man they think I am at home [Eb] Ah, no no no... [Bb/D] I'm a roc [C7] ket man [Eb] Rocket man Burnin' out his fuse Up [Bb] here alone [Eb] ........... [Bb] And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time [Eb] 'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find [Bb] I'm not the man they think I am at home [Eb] Ah, no no no... [Bb/D] I'm a roc [C7] ket man [Eb] Rocket man Burnin' out his fuse Up [Bb] here alone [Eb] ...........
[Verse 2] [Gm7] Mars ain't the kind of place [C9] To raise your kids [Gm7] In fact, it's cold as hell [C9] [Eb] And there's no one [Bb/D] there to [Cm] raise them [Cm7/Bb] If you did (don't climb all the way - stay on F/A) [F/A] [Gm7] And all this science [C9] I don't understand [Gm7] It's just my job [C9] Five days a week A Rocket [Eb] Man [Bb/D] an a [Cm] an [Cm7/Bb] Rocket Man [F/A][F/C][F][Eb9]
[Chorus] [Bb] And I think it's gonna be a long, long, time [Eb] 'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find [Bb] I'm not the man they think I am at home [Eb] Ah, no no no... [Bb/D] I'm a roc [C7] ket man [Eb] Rocket man Burnin' out his fuse Up [Bb] here alone [Eb] [Chorus again]