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
Songwriters: DON SCHLITZ
The Gambler lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
One of my all-time favorite songs. .
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It must be Rogers’ best known and everyone’s favorite song. Good lyrics. Catchy. Nice philosophy. Very singable.
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I loved “The Gambler” movie that included all those TV cowboy heroes of yesteryear. What a hoot!
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I hoped they would make one more, but that was the last. Pity. They were a lot of fun.
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I don’t know if anyone who had a career as big was ever connected as strongly to a single one of their songs as Kenny Rogers was to this one. So much so, that Kenny Rogers the pitcher was nicknamed The Gambler back in his playing days,,,
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I don’t know if it was his best song, but it certainly was his most memorable. EVERYONE knows the words. And it is such an easy thing with which to sing along. No high notes, no super low notes.
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Squirrel, I remember the pitcher, Kenny Rogers. A fair hurler.
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I haven’t thought of that song in decades. Thanks for the reminder!
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It’s a great singalong. I noticed today that it has a really small range of notes, so even if you aren’t a great singer, it’s an easy one to sing. I like that in a song.
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Easy to sing, especially in an easy key, is a big plus.
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Really great lyrics, Marilyn.
Leslie
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Aren’t they? Catchy, too. I find myself humming this on all kinds of occasions 🙂
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Wise words… Next to “faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money”
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I love wise words in country western songs. They sound so damned ETERNAL.
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Hell yes
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You just made my day. Thanks!
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I sort of made my own, too. I love that song. It’s just so perfect for so many things.
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Okay, time for Willie Nelson, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” Willie and Kenny — they’ll do.
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haha, That song works!
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It really does. Actually, it works for a lot of things. And the movies are hilarious, too.
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I agree and I loved them! Long gone the movies of innocent fun! and delight. to my way of thinking.
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Love the song and the movies.
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Have long loved that song… and here in the upper midwest it pops up on the radio with some regularity, and if I am home or otherwise alone, I will sing along.. There is also some wisdom in those words….
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Wisdom, good lyrics and a catchy tune. What more do we need?
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I did agree.
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I found your lost comment for some reason in the spam folder. But only that one. Why? Who knows?
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I don’t know. I find comments in spam folder from time to time too…Still dont get it.
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“know when to walk away…” IF ONLY…..
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