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The Gambler by Kenny Rogers
The Gambler
Tuning: E A D G B E
Capo: 1st fret
Chords:
A D Em/A G G/D
e|---0------2------0------3------3----|
B|---2------3------0------0------0----|
G|---2------2------0------0------0----|
D|---2------0------2------0------0----|
A|---0-------------0------5------2----|
E|------------------------5------0----|
[Verse 1]
D G/D D
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
A
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
D G/D D
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
G/D D A D
'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
[Verse 2]
D G/D D
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
A
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
D G/D D
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
G/D D A D
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
[Verse 3]
D G D
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
A
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
D G D
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
G D A D
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
[Chorus]
D G D
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
G D A
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D Em/A D G D
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
G D A D
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
[Slide capo to 2nd fret]
[Verse 4]
D G D
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
A
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
D G D
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
G D A D
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse 5]
D G D
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
A
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
D G D
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
G D A D
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus]
D G D
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
G D A
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D Em/A D G D
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
G D A D
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
(Repeat chorus once and end)
------------------
version 2
Tuning: E A D G B E
Key: G
Original key Eb
The first few lines are picking then he goes into the strumming.
[Verse 1]
G C G
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
C G C D
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
G C G
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
C G D G
'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
[Verse 2]
G C G
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
C G C D
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
G C G
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
C G D G
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
[Verse 3]
G C G
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
C G C D
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
G C G
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
C G D G
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
[Chorus]
G C G
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
C G C D
know when to walk away and know when to run.
G C G
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
C G D G
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
[Verse 4] (transpose +1 here if you want to play it correctly)
G C G
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
C G C D
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
G C G
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
C G D G
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse 5]
G C G
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
C G C D
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
G C G
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
C G D G
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus]
G C G
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
C G C D
know when to walk away and know when to run.
G C G
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
C G D G
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
G C G
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
C G C D
know when to walk away and know when to run.
G C G
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
C G D G
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
G C G
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
C G C D
know when to walk away and know when to run.
G C G
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
C G D G
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
------------------
version 3
[Intro]
e|-----0-------------0---3~5-0-|
B|-0h2---2-3-2p0-0h2---2-------|
G|-----------------------------| x 2
D|-----------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|
[Verse 1]
(add9 to the E on every 3rd beat throughout 1st 2 verses)
E A/E E
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
E B7
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
E A/E E
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
A/E E B7 E
'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
[Verse 2]
(Bass in)
E A/E E
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
B7
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
E A/E E
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
A/E E B7 E
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
Verse 3: (strumming starts)
E A E
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
B7
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
E A E
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
A E B7 E
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
[Chorus]
E A E
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
A E B7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
E A E A E
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
E A E B7 E
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
[Verse 4]
(Key change)
F Bb F
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
C
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
F Bb F
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
Bb F C F
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse 5]
F Bb F
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
C7
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
F Bb F
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
Bb F C7 F
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus]
F Bb F
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Bb F C7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
F Bb F Bb F
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
F Bb F C7 F
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
N.C.
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.
F Bb F
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Bb F C7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
F Bb F Bb F
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
F Bb F C7 F
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
| ~ Vibrato
------------------
version 4
Tuning: E A D G B E
Capo: 1st fret
[Verse]
D G D
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
G D A7
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
D 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.
[Verse 2]
D G D
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
G D A7
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
D G D
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
G D A7 D
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
[Verse 3]
D G D
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
G D A7
Then he bummed a cigarette, and asked me for a light.
D 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 G D
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
G D A7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D 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.
[Verse 4] (Key change)
E A E
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
A E B7
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
E A E
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
A E B7 E
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse 5]
E A E
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
A E B7
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
E A E
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
A E B7 E
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus]
E A E
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
A E B7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
E A E
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
A E B7 E
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
------------------
version 5
Tuning: E A D G B E
Without a Capo. The original song in key of D#/Eb and then to E at the key change. Guitar strings tuned
down half a step. these are just the chords to play when it's tuned half a step not the original guitar open
string notes. You don't have to play with these open strings only, can play it with higher open strings to if
you want to play it at a different key or lower if you you want to play at a lower key. These are are just
the open strings to make it sound like the original song but sounds good in any key.
Open Strings(D#, G#, C#, F#, A#, d#)
[Verse]
E A E
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
E B7
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
E A E
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
B7 E
'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
[Verse 2]
E A E
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
B7
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
E A E
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
A E B7 E
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
[Verse 3]
E A E
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
B7
Then he bummed a cigarette, and asked me for a light.
E A E
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
A E B7 E
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
[Chorus]
E A E
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
A E B7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
E A E A E
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
A E B7 E
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
[Verse 4] (Key change)
F Bb F
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
C7
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
F Bb F
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
Bb F C7 F
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse 5]
F Bb F
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
C7
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
F Bb F
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
Bb F C7 F
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus]
F Bb F
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Bb F C7
know when to walk away and know when to run.
F Bb F Bb F
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
Bb F C7 F
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
------------------
version 6
Tuning: E A D G B E
Capo: 3rd fret
The original is in the key of Eb with a key change up to E (i think the transition chord is an F chord)
I have come up with this version as a novice version that allows for a key change without the more difficult
barre chords. This version goes from key of Eb to F
CHORDS (Relative to Capo on 3rd fret)
C x32010
F 133211
G 320033
D xx0232
A x02220
[Verse 1]
C C F C
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
F C C G
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
C C F C
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
F C G C
'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
[Verse 2]
C C F C
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
F C C G
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
C C F C
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
F C G C
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
[Verse 3]
C C F C
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
F C C G
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
C C F C
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
F C G C
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
[Chorus]
C C F C
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
F C C G
know when to walk away and know when to run.
C C F C
You don't count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
F C G C C D D
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
[Verse 4]
D D G D
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
G D D A
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
D D G D
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
G D A D
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse 5]
D D G D
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
G D D A
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
D D G D
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
G D A D
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus]
D D G D
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
G D D A
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D D G D
You don't count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
G D A D
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
------------------
version 7
Tuning: D A D G B E
Capo: 1st fret
[Chords]
A D Em/A G G/D
E|----0------2------0------3------3----|
B|----2------3------0------0------0----|
G|----2------2------0------0------0----|
D|----2------0------2------0------0----|
A|----0-------------0------5------2----|
D|-------------------------5------0----|
(In a moderate country half-time)
[Verse 1]
D G/D D
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
A
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
D G/D D
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
G/D D A D
'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
[Verse 2]
D G/D D
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
A
and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
D G/D D
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
G/D D A D
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
[Verse 3]
D G D
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
A
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
D G D
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
G D A D
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
[Chorus]
D G D
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
G D A
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D Em/A D G D
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
G D A D
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
(Slide capo to 2nd fret)
[Verse 4]
D G D
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
A
is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
D G D
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
G D A D
and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
[Verse 5]
D G D
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
A
crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
D G D
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
G D A D
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
[Chorus]
D G D
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
G D A
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D Em/A D G D
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
G D A D
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
[Chorus]
D G D
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
G D A
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D Em/A D G D
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
G D A D
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
[Outro]
D G D
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
G D A
know when to walk away and know when to run.
D Em/A D G D
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
G D A D
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
----------------