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