[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 try to disc [C] over A little something to [G] make me sweeter Oh baby, ref [E] rain from breaking my [F] heart
[Pre-Chorus] I'm so in [C] love with you I'll be for [G] ever blue That you give me no [F] reason Why you're making me [Am] work so hard [G] That you give me no, that you give me no That you give me no, that you give me no
[Chorus] [C] Soul, I hear you [Am] calling Oh baby, [F] please give a little res [Em] pect [F] to- [G] oo [C] me
[C]
[Verse 2] And if I should [C] falter Would you open your [G] arms out to me We can make love, not [E] war And live at peace with our [F] hearts
[Pre-Chorus] I'm so in [C] love with you I'll be for [G] ever blue What religion or [F] reason Could drive a man to for [Am] sake his lover
[G] Don't you tell me no, don't you tell me no Don't you tell me no, don't you tell me no
[Chorus] [C] Soul, I hear you [Am] calling Oh baby, [F] please give a little res [Em] pect [F] to- [G] oo [C] me
[Interlude]
|(C) | C | C | C | | Bb | Bb | G | G
[Pre-Chorus] I'm so in [C] love with you I'll be for [G] ever blue That you give me no [F] reason You know, you're making me [Am] work so hard [G] That you give me no, that you give me no That you give me no, that you give me no
[Chorus] [C] Soul, I hear you [Am] calling Oh baby, [F] please give a little res [Em] pect [F] to- [G] oo [C] me
[C] Soul, I hear you [Am] calling Oh baby, [F] please give a little res [Em] pect [F] to- [G] oo [C] me
