[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 127 - Vox double - all way through] Start on upstroke so that snare hit lands on downstroke [Main intro and verse riff] -----------------------------*all downstrokes for run down E ------------------1--3---------3-1----- B 7--7--------------1--3--7--7-7-3-17----- G 7--7-repeat twice-2--4--7--7-7-4-27------ D 7--7--------------3--5--7--7-7-5-37---- A 5--5--------------3--5--5--5-5-5-35----- E ------------------1--3-------5-3-1------ udududududududududududududududududu
[Muted intro - [D][F][G] with run - no drums] [Muted intro - [D][F][G] with run - play snare on each downbeat of run] [Intro x 2 with full drums]
[Verse 1] [D5] People... [F][G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] learnin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] Soldiers. [F] .. [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] warrin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [E5] World... [G][A][E5][F#7] keep on [G7] turnin', [C7add9] 'Cause it won't be too [D5] long [F][G]
[Vamp] [D5][F][G] x 2
[Verse 2] [D5] Powers. [F] .. [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] lyin', [F][G] [D5][F][G] While your [D5] people [F] .. [G] . [D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] dyin [F][G][D5][F][G] [E5] World... [G][A][E5][F#7] keep on [G7] turnin [C7add9] 'Cause it won't be too [D5] long [F][G]
[Vamp] [D5][F][G] x 2
[Verse 3] I'm [G7] so darn glad he let me [D7] try it again, 'Cause my [G7] last time on earth I lived a [D7] whole world of sin, I'm [G7] so glad that I know more [D7] than I knew then, Gonna [E7] keep on tryin', [G] 'Til I [G7] reach the highest [D5] ground-- [F] -- [G] ---
[Vamp] [D5][F][G] x 2
[Verse 4] [D5] Teachers.. [F] . [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] teachin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] Preachers. [F] .. [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] preachin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [E5] World... [G][A][E5] just [F#7] keep on [G7] turnin', [C9] 'Cause it won't be too [D5] long [F][G][D5][F][G] D5 F G D5 F G Oh, no!
[Verse 5] [D5] Lovers. [F] .. [G][D5][F] keep [G] on [D5] lovin', [F][G][D5][F][G] Be - [D5] lievers. [F] .. [G][D5] keep [F] on [G] be - [D5] lievin', [F][G][D5][F][G] [E5] Sleepers. [G] .. [A][E5][F#7] just stop [G7] sleepin', [C7add9] 'Cause it won't be too [D5] long [F][G] [D5] Oh, no! [F] -- [G] ----- [D5] ------ [D7] -----
[Verse 6] I'm [G7] so darn glad he let me [D7] try it again, 'Cause my [G7] last time on earth I lived a [D7] whole world of sin, I'm [G7] so glad that I know more [D7] than I knew then, Gonna [E7] keep on tryin', ' [G] Til I [G7] reach my highest [D5] ground [F][G][D5][F][G]
[Coda] [D5] Woo! [F][G][D5] Til I [F] reach my [G] highest [D5] ground, [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] No, [F][G][D5] no one's [F] gonna [G] bring me [D5] down, [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] Oh, no, [F][G][D5] til I [F] reach my [G] higher [D5] ground, [F][G][D5][F][G] [D5] Hum, [F] don't [G] you [D5] let no - [F] body [G] bring you d [D5] own- [F] -- [G] -, [D5][F][G] [D5] God, is gonna [F] show you [G] higher [D5] ground [F][G][D5][F][G][D]
