[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 - Full drums] [E][Fuller Run E to C][C][D][E] x2 (oohs)
1 2 oh oh oh - (notes to sing) oh(C) x x oh(C/B) x x oh(D/A) x x oh(E/B)
[Verse 1 - go much quieter on guitar so can build in chorus] [E] How, ...(keyboard riff) ....[C#m-High] ... how can it [D] be ...That a [Bm7] love carved out of [E] caring Fashioned by [C#m] fate Could suffer so [D] hard ..... From the [Bm7] games played once too [E] often (keyboard riff) [C#m-High] ... [D] stakes ... is a [Bm7] part of life's imper [E] fections Born of the [C#m] years .. Is it [D] so wrong To be [Bm7] human after [E] all
[Pre-Chorus - words in () brackets drop if can not get to] [E][Lighter Run E to C] Drawn into the [C] stream ..... (Of) [D] undefined ill [E] usion Those [Lighter Run E to C] diamond [C] dreams ..... (They) [D] can't disguise the [E] truth
[Chorus] [Fuller run E to C] That there is something [C] about you, ...........[D] baby, so [E] right [Fuller run E to C] I wouldn't be with [C] out you, [D] baby, to [E] night
[Verse 2] [E] (keyboard riff) [C#m-High] If ever our [D] love was con [Bm7] cealed .. No one can [E] say that we didn't [C#m] feel .. A million [D] things and a [Bm7] perfect dream of [E] life (keyboard riff) [C#m-High] Gone, fragile but [D] free .... We [Bm7] remain tender to [E] gether If not so in [C#m] love It's not [D] so wrong We're only [Bm7] human after [E] all
[Pre-Chorus - Just bass drum] [E][Lighter Run E to C] These che en gine [C] years ..... (They) [D] add to your con [E] fusion [Lighter Run E to C] (E-0) Oh (2)and you (on beat) (4)nee (5)eed (A-2)to [C] hear (The) [D] time that told the [E] truth
[Chorus - Full drums] [Fuller run E to C] That there is something [C] about you, ...........[D] baby, so [E] right [Fuller run E to C] I wouldn't be with [C] out you, [D] baby, to [E] night
[Solo] [E][Fuller run E to C][C][D][E] x2
[Oohs] [E][Fuller run E to C][C][D][E] x 4 (something about you improv)
[End] [E riff] [E][C#m-High] E x-------12-- B 9-10-12-9--- G 9-------9--- D 9-------x--- A x-------11-- E 0-------9---
[Lighter Run E to C] Count (1) (2) (3)(&)(4)(&) - * = barre with 1st finger and lift up bottom so high open strings ring a bit E 0-0-0--0 B 0-0-0--1 G 1-1-1--0 D 2-2-2--2 A 2-2-2--3 E 0-2-457-
[Fuller run E to C] Count (1) (2) (3)(&)(4)(&) - * = barre with 1st finger and lift up bottom so high open strings ring a bit (with snares) E 0--0--0-0-0-0 B 0--0--0-0-0-1 G 1--1--0-1-1-0 D 2--2--2-2-2-2 A 2--2--2-0-2-3 E 0--2--4-0-0-x
