[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 - No drums - stacatto down strokes] C C F/C G/C
[Verse 1] You [C] better watch [C] out you [F] better not [G] cry You [C] better not [C] pout I'm [F] telling you [G] why [C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town [C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town [C] Santa [Am] Claus is [F] comi [G] ng to [C] town [F][G]
[Verse 2 - Half time B x bB S] He's [C] making a [C] list and [F] checking it [G] twice He's [C] gonna find [C] out who's [F] naughty or [G] nice [C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town [C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town [C] Santa [Am] Claus is [F] comi [G] ng to [C] town [C7]
[Bridge 1 - Straight quiet drums] He [Gm] sees you [C] when you're [F] sleeping He [Gm] knows when [C] you're [F] awake He [D7] knows if you've been bad or good (dru [G6] ms B SS B S) - You better be good for goodness sake better be good for goodness sake (triplet fill - full drums in - start on upstroke of strum)
[Verse 3] You [C] better watch [C] out you [F] better not [G] cry You [C] better not [C] pout I'm [F] telling you [G] why [C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town [C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town (next chords play straight) [C] Santa [Am] Claus is [F] comin [G] g to [C] town [C][F][G]
[Solo on Verse Chords] C C F G x 4 C Am F G - C C C7 C7
[Bridge 2] He [Gm] sees you [C] when you're [F] sleeping He [Gm] knows when [C] you're [F] awake He [D7] knows if you've been bad or good You [G6] better be good for goodness sake better be good for goodness sake
[Verse 4 - C/Bb-6x555x] You [C] better watch [C/Bb] out you [F/A] better not [Ab] cry You [C] better not [C/Bb] pout I'm [F/A] telling you [Ab] why [C][C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town [C][C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town [C][C] Santa [Am] Claus is [F] coming to [G] tow [C]
[Tag - Quiet bit as per intro] C C F/C G/C [C] Santa Claus is [F] coming to [G] town (repeat a few times)
[Ending - Slow] [C] Santa [Am] Claus is [Dm] coming [G] to to [C] wn
