[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 - Drums straight in] [Eb][Eb][Bbm][Db] (play pattern 111 133 with power chords to suggest 7th but not on Db) (keyboard riff is play the sus2 Eb Eb Ebsus2 Eb - x688 x6810 x6810)
[Verse 1] [Eb] Funny how I [Bbm] find myself [Db] in [Eb] love with you [Bbm][Db] [Eb] If I could buy my [Bbm] reaso [Db] ning I'd [Eb] pay to lose [Bbm][Db] One [E] half won't do
[Pre-chorus] [Am][F][G][C] I've [F] asked myself how much [G] do you. [Am] .. [F][G][C] Com [F] mit yourself? (drums BBS BBS)
[Chorus] [G] It's my [Am] life [Dm][G] don't [C] you for [Am] get [Dm][G] [C] It's my [Am] life [Dm][G] it [C] never [Am] ends [Dm][G][C]
[Instrumental] [Fm][Fm] (implied more than played - bass also stops) [Eb][Eb][Bbm][Db]
[Verse 2] [Eb] Funny how I [Bbm] blind myself [Db] I [Eb] never knew [Bbm][Db] [Eb] If I was sometimes [Bbm] played upon [Db] a [E] fraid to lose
[Pre-chorus] [Am][F][G][C] I'd [F] tell myself what good you [G] do [Am] ... [F][G][C] Con[F] vince myself
[Chorus] [G] It's my [Am] life [Dm][G] don't [C] you for [Am] get [Dm][G] [C] It's my [Am] life [Dm][G] it [C] never [Am] ends [Dm][G][C]
