On a warm summer's evening
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
The boredom overtook us
And 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 face lost all expression
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
And 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'd finished speakin'
He turned back toward the window
Crushed 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've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And 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

You've 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
And 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

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And 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