On a warm summer's evening, on a train bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler, we were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-staring out the window at the darkness
The boredom overtook us, and he commenced to speak
He said, "Son, I've made a life outta readin' people's faces
And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes
If you don't mind me sayin', I can see you're out of aces
And 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
And then he bummed a cigarette, and then he bummed a light
And the night got deathly quiet, his face lost all expression
He said, "If you're gonna play the game, kid
You gotta learn to play it right"
'Cause every gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away, and knowin' what to keep
'Cause every hand's a winner, just like every 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 never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep
Then 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 never count your money when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done
You got to know when to hold 'em (when to hold 'em)
Know when to fold 'em (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 counting when the dealing is done
But 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 counting when the dealing is done
There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done
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