Kenny Rogers - The Gambler lyrics

On a warm summers evenin'

On a train bound for no where

I met up with the gambler

we were both too tired to sleep

So we took turns to starrin'

out the window at the darkness

'till boredom overtook us

and he began to speak

He said sun I make my life

out of readin' peoples faces

Knowin' what the cards were

by the way they held their eyes

So if you don't mind me sayin'

I can see your out of aces.

For a taste of your whiskey

I'll give you some advice

So I handled him my bottle

And he drink down my last swallow

Then he bumped a cigarette

and asked me for a light

And the night got deadly quiet

and his face lost all expression

He said if you gonna play the game, boy

you gotta learn to play it right

You 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 your sittin' at the table

There'll time enough for countin'

When the dealin's 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

The best you can hope for

is to die in your sleep

So when he finished speekin'

He turned back for 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

You 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 your sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin'

When the dealin's done

You 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 your sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin'

When the dealin's done