[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 2 - BPM 88] G G/D x4 - arpeggio - play G string with thumb, B and E with first and second fingers then play D string thumb with thumb - repeat pattern (sort of) for all other chords OR JUST DOWNPICK THE BASS NOTE WITH FIRST FINGER JUST USING A PLECTRUM THEN STRUM THE REST OF THE CHORD WHILST PLAYING THE SNARE - WITH EACH CHORD PLAY ROOT THEN 5TH AFTER - SO WITH C YOU ARE PLAYING C/G EVERY SECOND BASS NOTE - SOUNDS GOOD
[Verse 1 - Finger pick with bass drum on all quarter notes - Root to 5th where possible] (Finger picking pattern is pama - play just 2 treble strings in up up down pattern) [G] Almost Heaven [Em] , West Virginia [D] Blue Ridge Mountains, [C] Shenandoah [G] River. [G] Life is old there, [Em] older than the trees, [D] younger than the mountains, [C] blowin' like a [G] breeze.
[Chorus - Strum with bass drum and full snare - 2/4 - Bass note Root to 5th where possible] Country [G] Roads, take me [D7] home, to the [Em] place I be [C] long West Vir [G] ginia, mountain [D] mama, take me [C] home, country [G] roads.
[Verse 2 - Slap snare so gentler feel] [G] All my memories [Em] gather 'round her [D] , miner's lady, [C] stranger to blue [G] water. [G] Dark and dusty, [Em] painted on the sky, [D] misty taste of moonshine, [C] teardrop in my [G] eye.
[Chorus] Country [G] Roads, take me [D7] home, to the [Em] place I be [C] long West Vir [G] ginia, mountain [D] mama, take me [C] home, country [G] roads.
[Bridge] [Em] I hear her [D/F#] voice, in the [G] mornin' hour she calls me. The [C] radio re [G] minds me of my [D] home far away. And [Em] drivin' down the [F] road I get a [C] feelin' that I [G] should have been home [D] yesterday, yester [D7] day.
[Chorus] Country [G] Roads, take me [D7] home, to the [Em] place I be [C] long West Vir [G] ginia, mountain [D] mama, take me [C] home, country [G] roads.
[Chorus] Country [G] Roads, take me [D7] home, to the [Em] place I be [C] long West Vir [G] ginia, mountain [D] mama, take me [C] home, country [G] roads.
[Outro] Take me [D] home, (down) country [G] roads. Take me [D] home, (down) country [G] roads.
