The Gambler

About 20 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 a starin’ 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 readin’ people’s faces                           And knowin’ what their cards were by the way they held their eyes                                         And if you don’t mind my sayin’ 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                                   ’Cos ev’ry gambler knows that the secret to survival                         Is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep                                   And ev’ry hand’s a winner just like ev’ry hand’s a loser                         And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep                          You 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 sittin’ at the table                                There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’ is done                             You 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 sittin’ at the table                                There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’ is done                             And when he finished speakin’ he turned back t’ward 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 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 sittin’ at the table                                There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’ is done                             You 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 sittin’ at the table                                There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’ is done                             You 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 sittin’ at the table                                There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’ is done