Johnny Cash - The Gambler lyrics

About twenty 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 staring 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 reading people's faces
And knowing what their cards were by
The way they held their eyes
And if you don't mind my saying
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
'Cause every gambler knows that
The secret to survival
Is knowing what to throw away
And knowing what to keep
And every hand's a winner just
Like every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep"

You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting
When the dealing is done
You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting
When the dealing is done

And when he finished speaking
He turned back toward 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've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting
When the dealing is done
You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting
When the dealing is done
You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting
When the dealing is done