[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] | F#m | F#m E/G#(476454) | A | A (Bm Bm/C#-x44x22) | | D | D | E | C#7 |
[Verse 1] [F#m] It can't be [E/G#] said I'm an [A] early bird It's ten o' [Bm] clock bef [Bm/C#] ore I [D] say a word Baby, I can never [E] tell How do you sleep so [C#7] well? You keep telling me to
[F#m] live right To go to [E/G#] bed before the [A] daylight But then you [Bm] wake up [Bm/C#] for the [D] sunrise You know you don't gotta pre [A] tend Baby, now and [E/G#] then Don't you just wanna
[Pre-Chorus 1] [F#m] wake up, dark as a lake? Smel [E/G#] ling like a [A] bonfire, lost in a haze? If [Bm] you're drunk [Bm/C#] on [D] Life, babe, I think it's great But while in this [E] world I think I'll [C#7] take my whiskey
[Chorus] [F#m] neat My coffee black [E/G#] and my [A] bed at three [A] You're too [Bm] sweet [Bm/C#] for [D] me You're too sweet for [A] me I [C#7] take my whiskey
[F#m] neat My coffee black [E/G#] and my [A] bed at three [A] You're too [Bm] sweet [Bm/C#] for [D] me You're too sweet for [E] mee [C#7] ee
[Verse 2] I aim [F#m] low I aim true and the [E/G#] ground's where I [A] go I work [A] late where I'm [Bm] free [Bm/C#] from the [D] phone And the job gets done But you [E] worry some, I [C#7] know But who wants to live for
[F#m] ever, babe? You treat your [E/G#] mouth as if it's [A] Heaven's gate The rest of [Bm] you like [Bm/C#] you're the [D] TSA I wish I could go a [A] long, babe, don't get me [E/G#] wrong You know you're bright as the
[Pre-Chorus 2] [F#m] morning, as soft as the rain Pret [E/G#] ty as a [A] vine, as sweet as a grape If you can [Bm] sit [Bm/C#] in a [D] barrel, maybe I'll wait Until that [E] day I'd rather [C#7] take my whiskey
[Chorus] [F#m] neat My coffee [E/G#] black and my [A] bed at three [A] You're too [Bm] sweet [Bm/C#] for [D] me You're too sweet for [A] me
I [C#7] take my whiskey [F#m] neat My coffee [E/G#] black and my [A] bed at three You're too [Bm] sweet [Bm/C#] for [D] me You're too sweet for [E] mee [C#7] ee
