Lyrics:

On a warm summers evenin 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
Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak

He said, son, Ive made a life out of readin peoples faces
And knowin what their cards were by the way they held their eyes
So if you dont mind my sayin, I can see youre out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey Ill 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 youre gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right

You 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 youre sittin at the table
Therell be time enough for countin when the dealins done

Now evry gambler knows that the secret to survivin
Is knowin what to throw away and knowing what to keep
Cause evry hands a winner and evry hands a loser
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep

So when hed finished speakin, he turned back towards the window
Crushed out his cigarette and 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 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 youre sittin at the table
Therell be time enough for countin when the dealins done

You 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 you r money when youre sittin at the table
Therell be time enough for countin when the dealins done