If you're gonna play the game, boy You better learn to play it right

About twenty 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'

'Cause 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