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The Gambler Lyrics by Dale Watson

Jukebox Fury

2022

[Verse 1]
On a warm summer's evenin', on a train bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler, we were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin' out the window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us, he began to speak

[Verse 2]
Said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces
Knowin' what the cards were by the way they held their eyes
So if you won't mind me sayin', I can see you're out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey, I'll give you somе advice"

[Verse 3]
So I handed him my bottle and hе 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, you gotta learn to play it right"

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 4]
Every gambler knows that secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away, knowin' what to keep
'Cause every hand's a winner, every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep

[Verse 5]
When he'd finished speakin', he turned back toward 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

[Chorus]
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
You got to know when to hold 'em (When to hold 'em)
Know when to fold 'em (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
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
Credits
Dale Watson

Dale Watson

About “The Gambler” by Dale Watson

Read the complete lyrics to "The Gambler" by Dale Watson from the album "Jukebox Fury" in 2022. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under In English, USA, Country.

"The Gambler" is performed by Dale Watson. from the album "Jukebox Fury" in 2022 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "The Gambler", explore more songs by Dale Watson using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Dale Watson · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"The Gambler" is credited to Dale Watson. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"The Gambler" appears on "Jukebox Fury" in 2022.

Visit the Dale Watson artist page at /artist/dale-watson for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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