[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 play the [Em7] street life, because there's [Am7] no place I can go [Bm7] Street life, Its the [Em7] only life I know. [Em7] Street Life, and there's a [Am7] thousand cards to play, [Bm7] Steet Life, until you [Em7] play your life away.
[Chorus-quick changes] You [Am7] let the people [C/D-x5555x] see, just who you [Bm7] wanna be, [E7#9-020103] And [Am7] every night you [C/D-x5555x] shine, just [Gmaj7] like a superstar. The [Gm7] type of life that's [Bb/C-x3333x] played, a [Fmaj7] temptin' mas[F#m7-5-232252] querade You [Am7] dress you walk you [C/D-x5555x] talk, You're [Gmaj7] who you think you are [B7#5#9-hendrix-x21233]
[Verse 2] [Em7] Street life, You can [Am7] run away from time, [Bm7] Street life, For a [Em7] nickel, or a dime, [Em7] Street life, But you [Am7] better not get old, [Bm7] Street life, Or you're [Em7] gonna feel the cold.
[Chorus] There's [Am7] always love for [C/D] sale a [Bm7] grown-up fairy [E7#9] tale Prince [Am7] Charming always [C/D] smiles behind [Gmaj7] a silver spoon And [Gm7] if you keep it young [Bb/C] your [Fmaj7] song is always [Gm7-5] sung Your [Am7] love will pay your way [C/D] beneath [Gmaj7] the silver moon
[Chorus - To play the horn part at end of B7 play 10 and 12 on B string, then 6 and 8 on E string for F] [D#maj7-668786] Street life [A#7/D-x53334][Cm7][A#7] [D#maj7-668786] Street life [A#7/D-x53334][C7][A#7] [Emaj7-0x999x] Street life [B7/D#-11x999x][C#m7][B7] [Emaj7] Street life [B7/D#][C#m7][B7]
[Verse] I play the [Em7] street life Because there's [Am7] no place I can go [Bm7] Street life It's the [Em7] only life I know [Em7] Street life And there's a [Am7] thousand cards to play [Bm7] Street Life Until you [Em7] play your life away- oh
[Chorus - To play the horn part at end of B7 play 10 and 12 on B string] [D#maj7-668786] Street life [A#7/D-x53334][Cm7][A#7] [D#maj7-668786] Street life [A#7/D-x53334][C7][A#7] [Emaj7-0x999x] Street life [B7/D#-11x999x][C#m7][B7] [Emaj7] Street life [B7/D#][C#m7][B7]
[D#maj7-668786] Street life [A#7/D-x53334][Cm7][A#7] [D#maj7-668786] Street life [A#7/D-x53334][C7][A#7] [Emaj7-0x999x] Street life [B7/D#-11x999x][C#m7][B7] [Emaj7] Street life [B7/D#][C#m7][B7]
[End - .X = 12(3)(1)] [Em7] play rhythm once - X x .X .X X
[Mad bit removed from second half of sax solo] C#m7 F#9sus4-111313 - Bmaj7 Bm7 E9sus4-000202 Amaj7 - Bbm7 Eb9sus4-x66666 Abmaj7
[Interlude Riff - play high part with thumb and first finger as naturally mutes the G string with thumb] E --5p3p0--------- B 0---------- G 0---------- D 0---------- A 0---------- E ----------
