[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] When the [D] snowman brings the snow, Well he [G] just might like to know; He's put a [D] great big smile up- [Bm] on somebody's [Em] face. [A7]
If you [D] jump into your bed; quickly [G] cover [G/F#] up your [Em] head. Don't you [D]lock the doors; You know that [A]sweet... Santa Claus is on the [C] way. [D]
[Chorus] [B]Well I... [E] Wish it could be Christmas every- [A] day, When the [B] kids start singing and the band begins to [E] play. [B] Well I [E] wish it could be Christmas every- [A] day. [E/G#][F#m] So let the [E] bells, ring [B] out for [A] Christmas. [E]
[Verse] When we're [D] skating in the park, If the [G] snow cloud paints it dark; Then your [D] rosey cheeks will [Bm] light my merry [Em] way. [A7] Now the [D] frosticals appeared, And they've [G] frozen [G/F#] up my [Em] beard, So we'll [D]lie by the fire, 'Till the [A]sleep simply melts them all a- [C]way. [D]
[Chorus] [B] Well I... [E] Wish it could be Christmas every- [A] day, When the [B] kids start singing and the band begins to [E] play. [B] Well I [E] wish it could be Christmas every- [A] day. [E/G#][F#m] So let the [E] bells, ring [B] out for [A] Christmas. [E]
[Verse] When the [D] snowman brings the snow, Well he [G] just might like to know; He's put a [D] great big smile up- [Bm] on somebody's [Em] face. [A7] So if [D] Santa brings that sleigh, All a- [G] long The [G/F#] Milky [Em] Way, I'll sign my [D]name on the rooftop, in the [A]snow, Then he might decide to [C]stay. [D]
[Chorus] Well [B] I... [E] Wish it could be Christmas every- [A] day, When the [B] kids start singing and the band begins to [E] play. [B] Well I [E] wish it could be Christmas every- [A] day. [E/G#][F#m] So let the [E] bells, ring [B] out for [A] Christmas. [E]
[Chorus - Children join in] Well [B] I... [E] Wish it could be Christmas every- [A] day, When the [B] kids start singing and the band begins to [E] play. [B] Well I [E] wish it could be Christmas every- [A] day. [E/G#][F#m] So let the [E] bells, ring [B] out for [A] Christmas. [E]
[Break] Why don't you [Amaj7] give... Your [B] love, for... [A] Christmas? [E/G#][F#m][E]
[Outro] When the [E] snowman brings the snow, When the snowman brings the [A] snow. When the [E] snowman brings the snow, When the snowman brings the [A] snow. (Repeat to Fade)
[End - original run after Chorus] [E/G#][F#m][E,][A7]