"The Gambler" lyrics - BOBBY BARE

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 window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us
And he commenced to speak

He said, "Son, I made a life
Outta of readin' people's faces
And knowin' what the cards were
By the way they held their eyes
And 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 then he bummed a light
And the night got deathly quiet
And his face lost all expression
He said, "If you gonna play the game, boy
You gotta learn to play it right

Now, you gotta know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run
And you never count your money
Oh, when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin' is done"

He said, "Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away
And knowin' what to keep
'Cause ever' hand's a winner
Just like ever' hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep

When he finished speakin'
He turned back toward the window
Crushed out his cigarette
Faded off to sleep
Somewheres in the darkness
The gambler, he broke even
In his final words, I found
An ace that I could keep

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 dealin' is done

You gotta know when to hold 'em (when to hold 'em)
Know when to fold 'em (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' is done
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin' is done