The Gambler

About 20 years ago, 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' through the window at the darkness

Til' boredom overtook us and he commenced to speak

He said: Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces

And knowin' what their cards were, by the way they held their eyes

And if you don't mind my sayin', I would say you're out of aces

"And for one taste of your whiskey, I will give you some advice

So I handed him my bottle, and he drank down my last swallow

Then he bummed a cigarette; then he bummed a light

The night got deathly quiet and his face lost all expression

He said: If you're gonna play the game, boy, you better learn to play it right

'Cos ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survival

Is knowin' what to throw away and knowin' what to keep

And ev'ry hand's a winner, just like ev'ry hand's a loser

And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep

You got to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em

Know when to walk away; know when to run

You don't ever count your money while you're sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin' is done

You got to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em

Know when to walk away; know when to run

You don't ever count your money while you're sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin' is done

And when he finished speakin', he turned back t'ward the window

Put out his cigarette; faded off to sleep

And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler he broke even

But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep

You got to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em

Know when to walk away; know when to run

You don't ever count your money while you're sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin' is done

You got to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em

Know when to walk away; know when to run

You don't ever count your money while you're sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin' is done

You got to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em

Know when to walk away; know when to run

You don't ever count your money while you're sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin' is done