[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.
[Riff] [C]-x-x-[C/D]--x-x-[C/E]-x--x-x-[F]-x--[F]-x-x-x--- [F]-x-x-[F]----x-x-[G]---x--x-x-x-x----x---x-x-x--- (C to F riff = C C/D C/E F - can play x32010 x30010 x(3)2010)
[Verse- Repeat Riff 1] Oh, what a [C to F riff] night ..... [F] late [G] December back in [C to F riff]'6...3, .....[F] what a [G] very special [C to F riff]time for me, .......... as [F]I re [G] member what a [C to F riff]night! ..........[F][G] Oh, what a [C to F riff]night, you [F]know I [G]didn't even [C to F riff]know her name, but [F]I was [G]never gonna [C to F riff] be the same, [F]what a [G]lady, what a [C to F riff] night! [F][G]
[Chorus - Just Bass drum with chords, no snare, no harmonies] Oh [Dm] I, I [F] got a funny feeling when she [Am] walked in the [G] room, and [Dm] I, as [F] I recall it ended much [G] too soon. [G7]
[Verse - RIFF 1] Oh, what a [C to F riff]night, ...... [F]Hypno [G] tizing, mesme [C to F riff] rizing me. ........[F]She was [G]everything I [C to F riff] dreamed she'd be.....[F]Sweet sur[G]render, what a [C to F riff] night!! [F][G]
[Horn Bit] Am x x Am - x x x x Am x x Am - x x x x Am x x C - x x D x (repeat)
[Bridge] [F] Oh, I felt a rush like a [Em] rolling bolt of thunder, [F] spinning my head around and [G] taking my body under. (Oh what a
[Vamp on riff - no vocals] C C/D C/E F - F F G G x 4
[Chorus - Just Bass drum with chords, no snare, no harmonies] Oh [Dm] I, I [F] got a funny feeling when she [Am] walked in the [G] room, and [Dm] I, as [F] I recall it ended much [G] too soon. [G7] (Oh what a)
[Verse] [C to F riff](night) ......... ,[F] why'd it [G] take so long to [C to F riff]see the light? .........[F] Seemed so [G] wrong, but now it [C to F riff]seems so right .........[F] what a [G] lady, what a [C to F riff]night!
[Horn Bit] Am x x Am - x x x x Am x x Am - x x x x Am x x C - x x D x (repeat)
[Bridge] [F] Oh, I felt a rush like a [Em] rolling bolt of thunder, [F] spinning my head around and [G] taking my body under. (Oh what a
[Outro] [Dooh dooh dooh dooh bit - Riff 1 - heavy on drums - chords much more muted] [C] (Night) Doo [C/D] do [C/E] doo [F] do do, [F] doo [F] do [G] doo (Oh what a) Repeat til fade or end on [C] [End]
