[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 BPM 82] Just acoustic D C G D Then flute D C G D Them drums D C G D - finger pick
[Verse 1 - finger pick chords] [D] I'm gonna take a freight train, [C] Down at the station, Lord [G] I don't care where it [D] goes [D] Gonna climb me a mountain, [C] The highest mountain [G] Gonna jump off, nobody gonna [D] know
[Chorus - Strum] [D] Can't you see, can't you [C] see, what that [G] woman been doin' to [D] me (Harmonies in) [D] Can't you see, can't you [C] see, what that [G] woman been doin' to [D] me
[Verse 2 - Strum] [D] I'm gonna buy me a ticket now, [C] As far as I can [G] Ain't never comin' [D] back [D] Take me southbound, [C] All the way to Georgia now [G] Till the train run out of [D] track
[Chorus] [D] Can't you see, can't you [C] see, what that [G] woman been doin' to [D] me (Harmonies in) [D] Can't you see, can't you [C] see, what that [G] woman been doin' to [D] me
(Solo) D C G D x 4
[Chorus] (No drums) [D] Can't you see, can't you [C] see, what that [G] woman been doin' to [D] me (Harmonies + Drums in) [D] Can't you see, can't you [C] see, what that [G] woman been doin' to [D] me
[Repeat until bottled off]
[End]
[Verse 2] this is not sung in the version I found on YouTube [D] I'm gonna find me [C] A hole in the wall [G] I'm gonna crawl inside and [D] die [D] 'Cause my lady, now, [C] a mean ol' woman, Lord [G] Never told me goodbye [D]