The Gambler

The Gambler - Bobby Bare

On the warm summer's eve

On a train bound for nowhere

I met up with a gambler

We were both too tired to sleep

So we took turns starin'

Out window at the darkness

Till boredom overtook us

And he commenced to speak

He said son I made a life

Out 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

And for a taste of your whiskey

I would give you some advice

So I handed him my bottle

And he drank down my last swallow

Then he'd bummed a cigarette

And asked me for 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 up

Know when to fold up

Know when to walk away

Know when to run

And you never count your money

When you're sittin' at the table

There'll be time enough for countin'

When the dealin's done

He said every gambler knows

That the secret to survival

Is knowin' what to throw away

And knowin' what to keep

Cause every hand's a winner

And give hand's a loser

And the best you can hope for

Is to die in your sleep

When he finished speaking

He turned back to the window

Crushed out his cigarette

And faded off to sleep

Somewhere 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

Know when to fold up

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's done

You gotta know when to hold

Know when to fold up

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's done

There'll be time enough for countin'

When the dealin's done