[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 - No drums - D to C is typically D as passing chord] [Gm] ([F]) [D#] (x2) (Drums In - Strumming pattern XxXX xxXx B S [Gm][Cm] x 2
[Verse 1] I was [Gm] walkin' down the street [Cm] Concen- [Gm] tratin' on truckin' right [Cm] I heard a [Gm] dark voice beside of me [Cm] And I looked [Gm] round in a state of fright [Cm]
[Bridge 1] I saw four [Gm] faces one mad A [Cm] brother from the gutter They [Gm] looked me up and down a bit And [Cm] turned to each [Gm] other [F][D#] [Gm][F][D#] I say
[Chorus 1] I don't like [Gm] cricket [F] oh [D#] no I [Cm] love it [Dm][D#] I don't like [Gm] cricket [F] oh [D#] no I [Cm] love it [Dm][D#]
[Break - Drums B B B S] Don't you [Bb] walk thru my words You got to show some respect Don't you walk thru my words 'Cause you ain't heard me [F] out [D#] yet [Gm] ([F]) [D#] (x2)
[Verse 2] Well he looked [Gm] down at my silver chain [Cm] He said I'll [Gm] give you one dollar [Cm] I said You've [Gm] got to be jokin' man [Cm] It was a [Gm] present from me Mother [Cm]
[Bridge 2] He said I [Gm] like it I want it I'll [Cm] take it off your hands And you'll be [Gm] sorry you crossed me You'd [Cm] better understand that you're a- [Gm] lone [F][D#] A long way from [Gm] home [F][D#] [N.C.] And I say
[Chorus 2] I don't like [Gm] reggae [F] no [D#] no I [Cm] love it [Dm][D#] I don't like [Gm] reggae [F] no [D#] no I [Cm] love it [Dm][D#]
[Break] Don't you [Bb] cramp me style Don't you queer on me pitch Don't you walk thru my words 'Cause you ain't heard me [F] out [D#] yet [Gm] ([F]) [D#] (x2)
[Key Change up semi tone]
[Verse 3] I hurried [G#m] back to the swimming pool [C#m] Sinkin' [G#m] pina coladas [C#m] I heard a [G#m] dark voice beside me say [C#m] Would you [G#m] like something harder [C#m]
[Bridge 3] She said I've [G#m] got it you want it My [C#m] harvest is the best And if you [G#m] try it you'll like it And [C#m] wallow in a Dreadlock Holi- [G#m] day [F#][E] [G#m][F#][E] And I say
[Chorus 3] Don't like Ja- [G#m] maica [F#] oh [E] no I [C#m] love her [D#m][E] Don't like Ja- [G#m] maica [F#] oh [E] no I [C#m] love her [D#m][E]
[Break] Don't you [B] walk thru her words You got to show some respect Don't you walk thru her words 'Cause you ain't heard her [F#] out [E] yet [G#m] ([F#]) [E] (x2)
[Chorus 4] I don't like [G#m] cricket [F#] oh [E] no I [C#m] love it ( [D#m] Dreadlock [E] Holiday) I don't like [G#m] reggae [F#] no [E] no I [C#m] love it ( [D#m] Dreadlock [E] Holiday) Don't like Ja- [G#m] maica [F#] oh [E] no I [C#m] love her ( [D#m] Dreadlock [E] Holiday)
