[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 - Finger pick - no drums] [D] Don't go [Bm6-x20102] Changin' [Gmaj7] to try please [Bm][D7] me [Gmaj7] you never [Gm7] let me down before [D/F#] [Am7] Mmmm [D7][Gmaj7] Don't im [Gm7] agine [D/F#] you're too fam [Bm7] iliar [E9sus4] And I don't [E9] see you any [G/A] more
[Refrain 1 - Drums in] [D] I would not [Bm6] leave you [Gmaj7] in times of [Bm] trouble [D9] [Gmaj7] we never [Gm7] could have come this [D/F#] far [Am7] Mmmm [D7][Gmaj7] I took the [Gm] good times [D/F#] I'll take the [Bm7] bad times [Em7] I'll take you [G/A] just the way you are Gm6/D G/D D Gm6/D G/D D (play variation of intro riff X 2)
[Verse 2] [D] Don't go [Bm6] trying [Gmaj7] some new [Bm] fashion [D9] [Gmaj7] Don't change the [Gm] colour of your [D/F#] hair [Am7] Mmm [D7] mm [Gmaj7] You always [Gm] have my [D/F#] unspoken [Bm7] passion [E9sus4] Although I [E9] might not seem to [G/A] care
[Refrain 2] I [D] don't want [Bm6] clever [Gmaj7] conver [Bm] sation [D9] [Gmaj7] I never [Gm] want to work that [D/F#] hard [Am7] Mmmm [D7][Gmaj7] I just want [Gm] someone [D/F#] that I can [Bm7] talk to [Em7] I'll want you [G/A] just the way you are Gm6/D G/D D Gm6/D G/D D (play variation of intro riff X 2)
[Bridge] [Gmaj7] I need to [A6] know that you will [F#m7] always [B7] be [Em7] the same old [A7sus] someone that I [D] knew [D/C] [Bb] What will it [C] take till you be [Am7] lieve in [D9] me [Gm] The way that [C/G] I believe in [G/A] you
[Refrain 3] [D] I said I [Bm6] love you [Gmaj7] & that's for [Bm] ever [D9] [Gmaj7] and this I [Gm] promise from the [D/F#] heart [Am7] Mmmm [D7][Gmaj7] I couldn't [Gm] love you [D/F#] any [Bm7] better [Em7] I'll love you [G/A] just the way you are Gm6/D G/D D Gm6/D G/D D (play variation of intro riff X 2)
[Refrain 4] [D] I don't want [Bm6] clever [Gmaj7] conver [Bm] sation [D9] [Gmaj7] I never [Gm] want to work that [D/F#] hard [Am7] Mm [D7][Gmaj7] I just want [Gm] someone [D/F#] that I can [Bm7] talk to [Em] I want you [A7sus4] just the way you are .... Bb C Am7 D9 Gm A7sus4-A7
Suggested ways to do certain chords: D9 x54530 (D7 is an easier alternative) E9sus4 020202 (E7sus and E7 are easier alternatives for the E9's) E9 020102 Bm6 x20102 C/G 3x5553 Suggested Intro (arpeggiated) xx0353. xx0087, xx0085, xx0232