On a warm summer's eve
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'
out the window at the darkness
The 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 b__med 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.

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 dealin's done.

Every gambler knows
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'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.

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 dealin'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 dealin'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 dealin's done.

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