[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] I [A] know there's [D] nothing to [A] say Someone has [D] taken my [A] place When [A] times go [E] bad, when [A] times go [E] rough, won't you [A] lay me down in the [D] tall grass, and [E] let me do my stuff? I [A] know I got [D] nothing on [A] you I know there's [D] nothing to [A] d When [A] times go [E] bad and you [A] can't get e [E] nough, won't you [A] lay me down in the [D] tall grass, and [E] let me do my stuff? do it
[BAM Section] [A] Bam bam bam bam ba bam [D] Bam bam bam bam ba bam [A] Bam bam bam babambabam [E] baba [A] bam do do de do [A] Bam bam bam bam ba bam [D] Bam bam bam bam ba bam [A] Bam bam bam babambabam [E] baba [A] bam
[Verse] One [A] thing I [D] think you should [A] know, I ain't gonna [D] miss you when you [A] g Been [A] down so [E] long, I've been [A] tossed around e [E] nough, Oh, [A] wouldn't you just [D] let me go [E] down and do my stuff? I [A] know you're [D] hoping to [A] find Someone who's gonna [D] give you peace of [A] mind When [A] times go [E] bad, when [A] times go [E] rough won't you [A] lay me down in the [D] tall grass, and [E] let me do my stuff? do it
[BAM Section] [A] Bam bam bam bam ba bam [D] Bam bam bam bam ba bam [A] Bam bam bam babambabam [E] baba [A] bam do do de do [A] Bam bam bam bam ba bam [D] Bam bam bam bam ba bam [A] Bam bam bam babambabam [E] baba [A] bam
[Outro - Final D to E is fast change] [A] I'm just [D] second hand [A] news, I'm just [D] second hand [A] news, [D] [A] ([D] ye [E] eh eh) (repeat 3 times)
