[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 Dmaj7 C#m7 Do you remember Bm7 F#m7 Dmaj7 C#m7 the 21st night of September? Bm7 F#m7 Dmaj7 C#m7 Love was changing the minds of pretenders Bm7 Fm7 G/A While chasing the clouds away
Verse 2 (DM7 - C#m7 - Bm7 - F#m7 G/A) Our hearts were ringing In the key that our souls were singing. As we danced in the night, Remember how the stars stole the night away
Chorus Bm7 E7 C#m7 F#m7 Ba de ya - say do you remember Bm7 E7 C#m7 F#m7 Ba de ya - dancing in September Bm7 E7 C#m7 F#m7 G/A Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day
Verse 3 (DM7 - C#m7 - Bm7 - F#m7 G/A) My thoughts are with you Holding hands with your heart to see you Only blue talk and love, Remember how we knew love was here to stay
Verse 4 (DM7 - C#m7 - Bm7 - F#m7 G/A) Now December found the love that we shared in September. Only blue talk and love, Remember the true love we share today