[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 - Just bass drum] Aaahh freak [Am7] out! Le [D] freak, c'est [C] Chic Freak o [Am7] ut! [D] Aaahh freak [Am7] out! Le [D] freak, c'est [C] Chic Freak o [Am7] ut! [D]
[Verse - Full drums] [Am7] Have you heard a- [D] bout the new dance [C] craze? [Am7] Listen to us, I'm [D] sure you'll be a- [C] mazed [Am7] Big fun to be [D] had by every- [C] one [Am7] It's up to you, it [D] surely can be [C] done [Am7] Young and old are [D] doing it, I'm [C] told [Am7] Just one try, and [D] you too will be [C] sold [Am7] It's called Le Freak! They're [D] doing it night and [C] day [Am7] Allow us, we'll [D] show you the way
[Chorus - Full drums but drop one snare on the 2] [C] Aaahh freak [Am7] out! Le [D] freak, c'est [C] Chic Freak o [Am7] ut! [D]
[Verse - Full drums] [Am7] All that pressure [D] got you down [C] [Am7] Has your head [D] spinning all a- [C] round [Am7] Feel the rhythm, [D] chant the [C] rhyme [Am7] Come on along and [D] have a real good [C] time [Am7] Like the days of [D] stopping at the Sa- [C] voy [Am7] Now we're free, [D] oh what a [C] joy [Am7] Just come on down, [D] to fif-ty [C] four [Am7] Find a spot out [D] on the floor
[Chorus - Full drums but drop one snare on the 2] [C] Aaahh freak [Am7] out! Le [D] freak, c'est [C] Chic Freak o [Am7] ut! [D]
[Solo - Full drums] [Am7] Now freak! -- [D] ------ [Am7] -------- [D] ------- [Am7] ---------- [D] ------- [Am7] ----------------- [D] ----- I said [Am7] freak!---- [D] -------- [Am7] -------- [D] ------------------------------------------ [Am7] Now freak!----- [D] ---------- [Am7] ------------ [D] -----------------------------------
[Verse - Full drums] [Am7] All that pressure [D] got you down [C] [Am7] Has your head [D] spinning all a- [C] round [Am7] Feel the rhythm, [D] chant the [C] rhyme [Am7] Come on along and [D] have a real good [C] time [Am7] Like the days of [D] stopping at the Sa- [C] voy [Am7] Now we free, [D] oh what a [C] joy [Am7] Just come on down, [D] to fif-ty [C] four [Am7] Find a spot out [D] on the floor
[Chorus - Full drums?] [C] Aaahh freak [Am7] out! Le [D] freak, c'est [C] Chic Freak o [Am7] ut! [D]
[Outro] [C] Aaahh freak [Am7] out! Le [D] freak, c'est [C] Chic Freak o [Am7] ut! [D] [C] Aaahh freak [Am7] out! Le [D] freak, c'est [C] Chic Freak o [Am7] ut! [D]
