[Verse 1]
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler, we were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin' out the window at the darkness
The boredom overtook us and he began to speak

[Verse 2]
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces
Knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes
So if you don't mind me sayin', I can see you're out of aces
For a taste of your whiskеy, I'll give you some advice"

[Verse 3]
So I handеd 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 face lost all expression
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right"

[Chorus]
You gotta 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 dealing's done

[Verse 4]
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
[Verse 5]
And when he finished speakin', he turned back to 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

[Chorus]
You gotta 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 dealing's done

[Outro]
You gotta know when to hold 'em (When to hold 'em)
Know when to fold 'em (When to fold them)
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 dealing's done
You gotta 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 dealing's done

[Spoken Outro]
Thank you
Thank you, Mr. Kenny