On a warm summers evenin
On a train bound for nowhere
I met up with the gambler
We were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin
Out the window at the darkness
When boredom overtook us
He began to speak
He said, Son, Ive made my life
Out of readin peoples faces
Knowin what the cards were
By the way they held their eyes
So if you dont mind my sayin
I can see youre out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey
Ill give you some advice
So I handed him my bottle
And he drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a cigarette
And asked me for a light
And the night got deathly quiet
And his face lost all expression
He said, If
Youre gonna play the game, boy
You gotta learn to play it right
Youve got to know
When to hold em
Know when to fold em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run
You never count your money
When youre sittin at the table
Therell be time enough for countin
When the dealins done
Now every gambler knows
The secret to survivin
Is knowin what to throw away
And knowin what to keep
Cause every hands a winner
And every hands a loser
And the best you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep
And when he finished speakin
He turned back toward the window
Crushed out his cigarette
And faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness
The gambler – he broke even
And in his final words I found
An ace that I could keep
Youve got to know
When to hold em
Know when to fold em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run
You never count your money
When youre sittin at the table
Therell be time enough for countin
When the dealins done
Youve got to know
When to hold em
Know when to fold em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run
You never count your money
When youre sittin at the table
Therell be time enough for countin
When the dealins done