On a warm summer�s evenin� 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 �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, 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.
Now ev�ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin� Is knowin� what to throw away and knowing what to keep. �cause ev�ry hand�s a winner and ev�ry hand�s a loser, And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.
So 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 you r money when you�re sittin� at the table. There�ll be time enough for countin� when the dealin�s done.�