[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 - Light drums] I've been [C]walkin' these streets [C/G]so -[C]long,[C/G] singin' the same [C/G]old [C]song [C/G][C] I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of [G]Broadway [Gsus4][G] Where [F]hustle's the name of the game And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the [C] rain [F/C][C] There's been a [G]load of compromisin', Lord on the [F]road to my ho[C]rizon (just bass drum) But [F]I'm gonna be where the [D/F#]lights are shinin' on [G]me [Gsus4][G]
[Chorus - DRUMS IN] Like a [C]rhine[G/D]stone [C]cowboy, [F/C][C] riding [Cmaj7]out on a horse in a [C6-x35555]star-spangled rode[G]o [Gsus4][G] Like a [C]rhine[G/D]stone [C]cowboy, [F/C][C] getting [Cmaj7]cards and letters from [C6]people I don't even [G]know And offers comin' over the phone
[Verse 2] Well, I [C]really don't mind [C/G]the [C]rain, [C/G]and a [C]smile can hide [C/G]all the [C]pain But [C/G]you're [C]down when you're ridin' the train that's takin' the [G]long way And I [F]dream of the things I'll do With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my [C]shoe [F/C][C]
There'll be a [G]load of compromisin', Lord on the [F]road to my ho[C]rizon But [F]I'm gonna be where the [D/F#]lights are shinin' on [G]me [Gsus4][G]
[Chorus] Like a [C]rhine[G/D]stone [C]cowboy, [F/C][C] riding [Cmaj7]out on a horse in a [C6]star-spangled rode[G]o [Gsus4][G] Like a [C]rhine[G/D]stone [C]cowboy, [F/C][C] getting [Cmaj7]cards and letters from [C6]people I don't even [G]know And offers comin' over the phone
[Strings bit] [F][C/E][Dm][C][G/B][F/A] [G][F][Em][Dm] (like a rhine..)
[Chorus] Like a [C]rhine[G/D]stone [C]cowboy, [F/C][C] riding [Cmaj7]out on a horse in a [C6]star-spangled rode[G]o [Gsus4][G] Like a [C]rhine[G/D]stone [C]cowboy, [F/C][C] getting [Cmaj7]cards and letters from [C6]people I don't even [G]know
