[Verse 1]
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 staring 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 reading people's faces
And knowing what their cards were by the way they held their eyes
And if you don't mind my saying, 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 every gambler knows that the secret to survival
Is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep
And 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"

[Chorus]
You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done
You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done
[Verse 2]
And when he finished speaking, he turned back toward 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

[Chorus]
You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done
You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done
You've 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 sitting at the table
There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done