Kenny Rogers – The Gambler lyrics

Kenny Rogers – The Gambler lyrics

On a warm summer's 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, I've made my life out of readin' people's faces,
And knowin' what their 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, 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 you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Now Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep. "

So when he'd 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 you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
Chrousx3

Lyrics taken from /lyrics/k/kenny_rogers/the_gambler.html

Songwriters: Don Schlitz

The Gambler lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Unregistered 2021-05-02 18:24:07

Its a well written song about life....Starring out the window of a train in the dark is really like looking into a mirror. The old man has come to the end of the road ( his life ) and is talking to himself.. The young, depressed man with a face, anyone could read( honesty), had enough money for a train ticket a bottle of whiskey and a pack of smokes. His old self had drank life (the bottle) minus the last swallow, enjoyed a last 5-7 minute smoke (time enough for counting) and went on to explain the tally to himself. There is only one ACE in life and that's you! You can win every hand or lose every hand, stay, walk or run but the only true winner is the dealer. The old man had played the game of life without cheating and the dealer allowed him to ( break even in the darkness ) die with dignity and no pain. He acknowledges that we are born alone and die alone ( train bound for nowhere), and have limited control over what happens in between except for the amount of fairness we apply. As they say "its not your birth date (1938) or your death date (2020) on your tombstone that counts its the dash in between that does"! thank you for giving the world this song Mr.Schlitz

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Unregistered 2019-02-27 05:32:40

Always thought the song was about Life in general. And about someone that's been through life and seen it all (the old gambler) and seen the Younger man going through the same thing and decides to pass on some Life advice before he makes the wrong decisions You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, --(Know when to pick ya battles verbally or physically and when to realise nah not worth it and walk).
Know when to walk away and know when to run. (verbally or physically or mentally sometimes).
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table. (don't count ya chickens beforee they hatch. And don't brag about things.)
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

Now Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep. (knowing how to piuck ya battles and know what people and situations are best for you in ya life and what isnt).
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser, (knowing is half the battle. Money friends or situations whats best0.
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep. ".

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Evan227 2008-10-26 08:35:56

I have to laugh about what the chorus has to say about dating and loving; gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know to walk away and know when to run! And "the secret to surviving is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep", and every hand's a winner and a loser. Once you accept that, your dating life (especially 35+, is easier).

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