The Gambler Chords & Lyrics - Johnny Cash

[VERSE]
On[G] a warm summer's evening on a [C]train bound for [G]nowhere
I [G]met up with a gambler, we were [G]both too tired to [D]speak
So [G]we took turns a-starin' out the [C]window at the [G]darkness
'Til [C]boredom over[G]took us and he be[D7]gan to [G]speak.
[G]He said, "Son, I've made a life out of re[C]adin' people's fa[G]ces,
[G]Knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their e[D]yes,
[G]And if you don't mind me sayin', I can see you[C]'re out of a[G]ces,
[C]And for a taste of yo[G]ur whiskey I'[D]ll give you some adv[G]ice."
[G]So I handed him my bottle and he drank do[C]wn my last swal[G]low;
[G]Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a li[D]ght,
[G]And the night got deathly quiet, and his fa[C]ce lost all exp[G]ression,
[C]' said "If you're gonna pl[G]ay the game, boy, [D]ya gotta learn to play it ri[G]ght.

[CHORUS]
You got to kn[G]ow when to hold 'em, Kn[C]ow when to fo[G]ld 'em,
K[C]now when to w[G]alk away And know when to r[D]un.
You never co[G]unt yo[D]ur mo[G]ney When you're si[C]ttin' at the ta[G]ble;
There'll be time en[C]ough for cou[G]ntin' Wh[D]en the dealin's do[G]ne.

[VERSE]
[A]Every gambler knows that the se[D]cret to surv[A]ivin'
Is knownin' what to throw away and knowin' what to k[E]eep
'Cause e[A]very ha[E]nd's a wi[A]nner, and ev[D]ery hand's a lo[A]ser,
And the b[D]est that you can h[A]ope for is to d[E]ie in your sl[A]eep."

[CHORUS]
You got to kn[G]ow when to hold 'em, Kn[C]ow when to fo[G]ld 'em,
K[C]now when to w[G]alk away And know when to r[D]un.
You never co[G]unt yo[D]ur mo[G]ney When you're si[C]ttin' at the ta[G]ble;
There'll be time en[C]ough for cou[G]ntin' Wh[D]en the dealin's do[G]ne.

[VERSE]
[A]And when he finished speakin', he tu[D]rned back toward the wi[A]ndow,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sl[E]eep,
And some[A]where in the dark[E]ness, the gam[A]bler, [D]he broke e[A]ven,
But in his fi[D]nal words I fo[A]und an ace that [E]I could ke[A]ep.

[CHORUS]
You got to kn[G]ow when to hold 'em, Kn[C]ow when to fo[G]ld 'em,
K[C]now when to w[G]alk away And know when to r[D]un.
You never co[G]unt yo[D]ur mo[G]ney When you're si[C]ttin' at the ta[G]ble;
There'll be time en[C]ough for cou[G]ntin' Wh[D]en the dealin's do[G]ne.