On a warm summer´s eve, 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´ out the window at the darkness.
When boredom overtook us, he began to speak.

He said, "Son, I´ve made a life out of readin´ people´s faces.
Knowin´ what the cards were by the way they held their eyes.
So if you don´t mind my 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 a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his faced lost all expression.
He said, "If you´re gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right.

You´ve 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 dealin´s done.

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 and every hand´s 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,
Crushed out his cigarette and 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´ve 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 dealin´s done.

{Repeat last verse}