[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] (drums stop) [Bm] This ain't a song for the broken-hearted (drums in) [Bm][G][F#] No [Bm] silent prayer for faith departed [Bm][Bm][G][F#] [Bm] I ain't gonna be just a [G] face in the crowd [D] You're gonna hear my voice [A] When I shout it out loud
[Chorus] It's my [Bm] life It's [G] now or never [D] I ain't gonna [A] live forever [Bm] I just wanna [G] live while I'm a [A] live (It's my [Bm] life) ..My heart is like an [G] open highway [D] Like Frankie said I [A] did it my way [Bm] …. I just wanna [G] live while I'm a [A] live It's my [Bm] life (can do a A to A# to Bm climb on 'its my' potentially)
[Riff] [Bm][Bm][G][F#] x2
[Verse 2] (drums stop) [Bm] This is for the ones who stood their ground (drums back) [Bm][Bm][G][F#] For [Bm] Tommy and Gina who never backed down [Bm][Bm][G][F#] To [Bm] morrow's getting harder, make [G] no mistake [D] Luck ain't even lucky [A] Got to make your own breaks
[Chorus] It's my [Bm] life It's [G] now or never [D] I ain't gonna [A] live forever [Bm] I just wanna [G] live while I'm a [A] live (It's my [Bm] life) ..My heart is like an [G] open highway [D] Like Frankie said I [A] did it my way [Bm] …. I just wanna [G] live while I'm a [A] live 'Cause It's my [Bm] life
[Solo] [Bm][G][D][A]
[Bridge] [Bm] Better stand tall when they're calling you out Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
[Chorus] It's my [Bm] life It's [G] now or never [D] I ain't gonna [A] live forever [Bm] I just wanna [G] live while I'm a [A] live (It's my [Bm] life) ..My heart is like an [G] open highway [D] Like Frankie said I [A] did it my way [Bm] …. I just wanna [G] live while I'm a [A] live 'Cause It's my
[Bm] life It's [G] now or never [D] I ain't gonna [A] live forever [Bm] I just wanna [G] live while I'm a [A] live (It's my [Bm] life) ..My heart is like an [G] open highway [D] Like Frankie said I [A] did it my way [Bm] …. I just wanna [G] live while I'm a [A] live