[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 - starting note is open B of G chord] We [G] come on the sloop John B
My grandfather and me Around Nassau town we did [D] roam [Dsus4][D] Drinking all [G] night [G7] Got into a [C] fight [Am] Well I [G] feel so broke up [D] I want to go [G] home (drums in)
So [G] hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the captain ashore Let me go [D] home, let me go [G] home [G7] I wanna go [C] home, yeah [Am] yeah Well I [G] feel so broke up [D] I wanna go [G] home
The [G] first mate he got drunk
And broke in the capn's trunk The constable had to come and take him a [D] way [Dsus4][D] Sheriff John [G] Stone [G7] Why don't you leave me a [C] lone, yeah [Am] yeah Well I [G] feel so broke up I [D] wanna go [G] home
So [G] hoist up the John B's sail (host up the John B)
See how the mainsail sets (see how the mainsail)
Call for the captain ashore Let me go [D] home, let me go [D] home I wanna go [G] home, let me go home, why don't you let me go [C] home?
Hoist up the John B, Hoist up the John B Well I [G] feel so broke up [D] I wanna go [G] home
The [G] poor cook he caught the fits
And threw away all my grits And then he took and he ate up all of my [D] corn [Dsus4][D] Let me go [G] home [G7] Why don't they let me go [C] home [Am] This [G] is the worst trip [D] I've ever been [G] on
So [G] hoist up the John B's sail (host up the John B)
See how the mainsail sets (see how the mainsail)
Call for the captain ashore Let me go [D] home, let me go [G] home [G7] I wanna go [C] home, yeah [Am] yeah Well I [G] feel so broke up [D] I wanna go [G] home