[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] I sit and wait [E] .............. does an angel .......contem [A] plate my fate ([C#m]) (C#m passing chord - just play on 4) [B] ...................and do they know [E] .....the places where we go when we're grey and [A] old ...................... ([C#m]) [B] ........... 'cos I've been [F#m] told .......... that salva [A] tion ........... lets their [C#m7] wings unfold .................. [A] ................. so when I'm [D] lying in my bed ........thoughts [A/C#] running through my head ..... and I [E] feel that love is dead ............ [D] I'm loving [A/C#] angels instead [E]
[Chorus] and through it [B] all she offers me protec [C#m] tion a lot of love and a [A] ffection whether I'm right or [E] wrong and down the water [B] fall wherever it may [C#m] take me I know that life wont [A] break me when I come to [E/G#] call she wont for [F#m - high E 542 run] sake me [D] I'm loving [A/C#] angels instead [E]
[Verse 2] [E] when I'm feeling weak and my pain walks down a one [A] way street ([C#m]) [B] ................. I look above [E] ......... and I know i'll always be blessed [A] with love ([C#m]) [B] ............... and [D] as the feeling grows ... she breathes [A/C#] flesh to my bones and [E] when love is dead ............ [D] I'm loving [A/C#] angels instead [E]
[Chorus] and through it [B] all she offers me protec [C#m] tion a lot of love and a [A] ffection whether I'm right or [E] wrong and down the water [B] fall wherever it may [C#m] take me I know that life wont [A] break me when I come to [E/G#] call she wont for [F#m - high E 542 run] sake me [D] I'm loving [A/C#] angels in [E] stead
[Solo] Bm A E E x4
[Chorus] and through it [B] all she offers me protec [C#m] tion a lot of love and a [A] ffection whether I'm right or [E] wrong and down the water [B] fall wherever it may [C#m] take me I know that life wont [A] break me when I come to [E/G#] call she wont for [F#m - high E 542 run] sake me [D] I'm loving [A/C#] angels in [E] stead