[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 - Capo 2 original key - BPM 82] When I was [D] young I'd listen to the [F#m] radio Waiting [Bm] for my [Bm/A] favourite [Gmaj7] songs When they pl [Gmaj7] ayed I'd sing a [F#m7] long Em7 A/C# G9/B-x20005 It made me smile Those were such [D] happy times and not so [F#m] long ago How I wo [Bm] ndered [Bm/A] where they'd [Gmaj7] gone [C#m7] But they're [Bm] back again Just like a [Bm/A] long lost friend All the [Gmaj7] songs I [Em7] love so [A] well
[Chorus] [Asus4] Every [D] sha-la-la-la, Every [Bm] wo-o-wo-o still [D] shines [Bm] [Bm riff - Bsus2 to Bm Bsus2 - then x244x2 - mute B with fretting finger x x Bm Bsus2 - Bsus2 Bm Bsus2 B5] Every [D] shing-a-ling-a-ling That they're [Bm] startin' to sing so [Em7] fine [A] [G/A][A] When they [Bm] get to the part Where he's [A#aug-x1232x] breaking her heart It can [D] really make me [G#m7] cry Just like be [D] fore [G/A] It's yesterday once [Dmaj7] more [Dmaj7] Shu be doo [D] lang [G/A] lang [Dmaj7] Shu be doo [D] lang [G/A] lang
[Verse 2] Looking [D] back on how it was in [F#m] years gone by And the [Bm] good times [Bm/A] that I [Gmaj7] had Makes [Gmaj7] today seem rather [F#m7] sad So much has c [Em7] hanged [A/C#][G9/B] It was [D] songs of love that I would [F#m] sing to then And I'd [Bm] memo [Bm/A] rize each [Gmaj7] word [C#m7] Those old [Bm] melodies Still sound so [Bm/A] good to me As they [Gmaj7] melt the y [Em7] ears a [A] way.
[Chorus with variation] [Asus4] Every [D] sha-la-la-la, Every [Bm] wo-o-wo-o still [D] shines (All the oldies but the [Bm] goodies) Every [D] shing-a-ling-a-ling That they're s [Bm] tartin' to sing so [Em7] fine [A] [G/A][A] All my [Bm] best memories come back [A#aug] clearly to me Some can [D] even make me [G#m7] cry. Just like be [D] fore [G/A] It's yesterday once [Dmaj7] more
[Dmaj7] Shu be doo [D] lang [G/A] lang
[Asus4] Every [D] sha-la-la-la, Every [Bm] wo-o-wo-o still [D] shines [Bm] Every [D] shing-a-ling-a-ling That they're s [Bm] tartin' to sing so [Em7] fine [A] [Repeat Chorus Start to end - End on D]
