"The Gambler" lyrics
(Live from Bensalem, PA. 2023)
(originally by Bobby Bare)
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 the cards were by the way that they were held
So if you don't mind me 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 my last cigarette and he asked me for a light
And that night got deathly quiet and his face lost all expression
He 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, know when to run
You got to 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 what to keep
'Cause every hand's a winner and every hand is a loser
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep
And when he finished speakin', he turned back toward the window
He crushed out his cigarette and he faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler, he broke even
And 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 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, 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
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 the cards were by the way that they were held
So if you don't mind me 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 my last cigarette and he asked me for a light
And that night got deathly quiet and his face lost all expression
He 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, know when to run
You got to 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 what to keep
'Cause every hand's a winner and every hand is a loser
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep
And when he finished speakin', he turned back toward the window
He crushed out his cigarette and he faded off to sleep
And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler, he broke even
And 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 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, 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
