Kenny Rogers - The Gambler lyrics

On a warm summer's evenin' on
A train bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler
We were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin' out
The window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us and
He began 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
So, 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
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 and know when to run
You never count your money when
You're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealing's done

Every gambler knows that the
Secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away
And knowing what to keep
'Cause every hand's a winner and
Every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep

And when he 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

You got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when
You're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealing's done

You got to know when to hold 'em
(When to hold 'em)
Know when to fold 'em (When to fold 'em)
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when
You're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealing's done
You got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when
You're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealing's done