[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 - BPM 123 - with Em Riff over Em] No drums --- [Em][Em][Em][Em] (drums in) With drums - [Em][Em][Em][Em] - [C][D][Em][Em]
[Verse] [Em] Tommy used to work on the docks [Emadd9 - 022002] [Em] Union's been on strike. He's down on his luck It's [C] tough, [D] so tough. [Em - Riff x 2]
[Em] Gina works the diner all day [Emadd9] [Em] Working for her man. She brings home her pay For [C] love, [D] for love. [Em - Riff x 2]
[Pre-Chorus] She says we've got to [C] hold [D] on to [D] what we've [Em] got. It [C] doesn't make a [D] difference if we [D] make it or [Em] not. We've [C] got each [D] other and [D] that's a [Em] lot, for [C] love. We'll [D] give it a shot.
[Chorus] [Em] Oh, ....... [C] we're [D] halfway [D] there, [G] woah ........ [C] oh, [D] livin' on a [D] prayer. [Em] Take my [C] hand, we'll [D] make it I [D] swear [G] Woah .... [C] oh [D] livin' on a [D] prayer.
[Em - Riff x 2]
[Verse] [Em] Tommy's got his six string in hock. [Emadd9] [Em] Now he's holding in, what he used to make it talk So [C] tough [D], it's [Em - Riff x 2] tough.
[Em] Gina dreams of running away [Emadd9] [Em] When she cries in the night, Tommy whispers: Baby it's O [C] .K., [D] some [Em - Riff x 2] day.
[Pre-Chorus] we've got to [C] hold [D] on to [D] what we've [Em] got. It [C] doesn't make a [D] difference if we [D] make it or [Em] not. We've [C] got each [D] other and [D] that's a [Em] lot, for [C] love. We'll [D] give it a shot.
[Chorus] [Em] Oh, ....... [C] we're [D] halfway [D] there, [G] woah ........ [C] oh, [D] livin' on a [D] prayer. [Em] Take my [C] hand, we'll [D] make it I [D] swear [G] Woah .... [C] oh [D] livin' on a [D] prayer. [Live  Just repeat and end - no key change] [End]
[Bridge] [Em] Oooooooooh, we've got to [C] hold [D] on, ready or [Em] not. You [C] live for the fight when that's [D] all that you've got.
[Outro Chorus - repeat to fade - Play Eb 365343 to keep position] [Gm] Woooo [Eb] oo, we're [F] halfway [F] there [Bb] Woah [Eb] oh, [F] livin' on a [F] prayer. [Gm] Take my [Eb] hand and we'll [F] make it I [F] swear [Bb] Woah [Eb] oh, [F] livin' on a [F] prayer.
[End] Intro Keys - Bass but no Drums (figure Em Em Em7 Em) Em Em Em Em (Drums in at end - xxxx xxxx SSSS SxSx) Em Em Em Em (Em Riff x 2 over Em, play high open strings as well) [Cmaj7 x35500][Dsus2add6 x57700] Em Em Em Em Em Em (Em riff over Em, play high open strings as well) [Cmaj7 x35500] (Once upon a time), [Dsus2add6 x57700] (not so long a) Em (go) Em (Em riff with drum xSSx SxSx)
[Em Riff] A ---7-5-- 5------- E --0----55-------- Dr--B-S-B-S- During verse strum the top 3 open strings so get Em chord