The Gambler Chords

Standard (EADGBE)

 On a Ewarm summer's evenin' on a Atrain bound for Enowhere,

 I Amet up with the Egambler; we were Aboth too tired to Bsleep.

 So Ewe took turns a starin' out the Awindow at the Edarkness

 'til Aboredom overEtook us, Band he began to Espeak.

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 can see you're out of aces.

For a taste of your whiskey I'll 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.

Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

Chorus

 You got to Eknow when to hold 'em,A know when to Efold 'em,

Aknow when to Ewalk away Aand know when to Brun.

 You never Ecount your money when you're Asittin' at the Etable.

 There'll be time Aenough for Ecountin' Bwhen the dealin's Edone.

FEv'ry gambler knows that theA♯ secret to survFivin'

 is A♯knowin' what to Fthrow away aA♯nd knowing what to keCep.

 'Cause Fev'ry hand's a winner and A♯ev'ry hand's a lFoser,

 and the A♯best that you can hFope for is to dCie in your sFleep."

And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,

crushed out his cigarette and 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