[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 - Melody starts on note D] Now I've [G] heard there was a se [Em] cret chord That [G] David played, and it pl [Em] eased the Lord But [C] you don't really [D] care for music, do [G] you? [D] It [G] goes like this the [C] fourth, the [D] fifth The [Em] minor fall, the [C] major lift The [D] baffled king com [B7] posing Halle [Em] lujah Halle [C] lujah, Halle [Em] lujah, Halle [C] lujah, Halle [G] lu- [D] u- [G] jah [D]
[Verse 2] Your [G] faith was strong, but you [Em] needed proof You [G] saw her bathing [Em] on the roof Her [C] beauty and the [D] moonlight over [G] threw ya [D] She [G] tied you to a [C] kitchen [D] chair She [Em] broke your throne, and she [C] cut your hair And [D] from your lips she [B7] drew the Halle [Em] lujah Halle [C] lujah, Halle [Em] lujah, Halle [C] lujah, Halle [G] lu- [D] u- [G] jah [D]
[Verse 3] You [G] say I took the [Em] name in vain [G] I don't even [Em] know the name But [C] if I did, well [D] really, what's it [G] to ya? [D] There's a [G] blaze of light in [C] every [D] word It [Em] doesn't matter [C] which you heard The [D] holy or the [B7] broken Halle [Em] lujah Halle [C] lujah, Halle [Em] lujah, Halle [C] lujah, Halle [G] lu- [D] u- [G] jah [D]
[Verse 4] I [G] did my best, it [Em] wasn't much I [G] couldn't feel, so I [Em] tried to touch I've [C] told the truth, I [D] didn't come to fool y [G] a [D] And [G] even though it [C] all went [D] wrong I'll [Em] stand before the [C] Lord of Song With [D] nothing on my [B7] tongue but Halle [Em] lujah
[Outro] Halle [C] lujah, Halle [Em] lujah, Halle [C] lujah, Halle [G] lu [D] jah x 4 - end on [G] [End]
