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The Gambler
Kenny Rogers
Capo 1
| Chords | ||
| 132 D xx0232 | 21 3 G 320003 | 1 2 A7 x02020 |
Strum Pattern
B B D d u
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D (2) G D
On a warm summer’s evenin’ on a train bound for nowhere,
D (3) A7
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
D (2) G D
So we took turns a starin’ out the window at the darkness
G D A7 D
’til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
D (2) G D
He said, “Son, I’ve made a life out of readin’ people’s faces,
D (3) A7
and knowin’ what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
D (2) G D
And if you don’t mind my sayin’, I can see you’re out of aces.
G D A7 D (2)
For a taste of your whiskey I’ll give you some advice.”
D G D
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
D (3) A7
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
D (2) G D
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
G D A7 D
Said, “If you’re gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
| Chorus D (2) G D You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, G D (2) A7 Know when to walk away and know when to run. D (2) G D You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table. G D A7 D There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done. |
D (2) G D
Ev’ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin’
D (3) A7
is knowin’ what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
D (2) G D
‘Cause ev’ry hand’s a winner and ev’ry hand’s a loser,
G D A7 D
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.
D (2) G D
And when he’d finished speakin’, he turned back towards the window,
D (3) A7
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
D (hold, 2) G (hold) D (hold)
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
G (hold) D (hold) A7 (hold) D (hold)
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
Chorus 3x
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