[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 - No drums] I've paid my [Am] dues, [Em7] time after [Am] time [Em7] ....I've done my [Am] sentence [Em7] but committed no [Am] crime [Em7] And bad mi- (arp pattern by strings played for C-51,2,3,1,2,3 F-61,2,3,1,2,3) [C] stakes, [F] I've made a [C] few [F] I've had my [C] share of sand [G/B] kicked in my [Am7/E] face, but [D/F#] I've come [G] through and we mean to go [G7] on, and on, and on, and [A] on
[Chorus - Full drums - Accent G and A with snare hits] [D] We are the [F#m] champions, my [Bm] friends [G][A] And [D] we'll keep on [F#m] fighting 'til the [G] end [G][G/F#][G/F][D#dim - with capo, 0-X-10-11-10-X, without 0-X-7-8-7-X] (bass run low E - 11 10) [Em] We are the [Em/C#] champions, [Gm] we are the [C#dim - x42020] cham-pions. [D] No time for [Em9] losers, 'cos [F] we are the [G7] champions [Am7] Of the world [Dm][Em7/B][Dm][Em7/B][Dm][Em7/B]
[Verse 2 - No drums] I've taken my [Am] bows, [Em7] and my curtain [Am] calls [Em7] You brought me [Am] fame and fortune and everything that [Em7] goes with it I thank you [Am] all ... [Em7] But it's been no bed of (drums in) [C] roses [F] no ooo [C] pleasure cruise [F] .... I consider it a [C] challenge before the [G/B] whole human [Am7/E] race and [D/F#] I ain't gonna [G] lose - And we mean to go [G7] on, and on, and on, and [A] on!
[Chorus - Full drums - Accent G and A with snare hits] [D] We are the [F#m] champions, my [Bm] friends [G][A] And [D] we'll keep on [F#m] fighting 'til the [G] end [G][G/F#][G/F][D#dim - 0-X-10-11-10-X, without 0-X-7-8-7-X] (bass run low E - 11 10) [Em] We are the [Em/C#] champions, [Gm] we are the [C#dim - x42020] cham-pions. [D] No time for [Em9] losers, 'cos [F] we are the [G7] champions [Am7] Of the .... (no world) [D] We are the [F#m] champions, my [Bm] friends [G][A] And [D] we'll keep on [F#m] fighting 'til the [G] end [G][G/F#][G/F][D#dim - 0-X-10-11-10-X, without 0-X-7-8-7-X] (bass run low E - 11 10) [Em] We are the [Em/C#] champions, [Gm] we are the [C#dim - x42020] cham-pions. [D] No time for [Em9] losers, 'cos [F] we are the [G7] champions [Am7] Of the ... [D] world
