Kenny Rogers- The gambler

VERSE 1:

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ON A WARM SUMMER'S EVENIN', ON A TRAIN BOUND FOR NOWHERE,
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I MET UP WITH A GAMBLER; WE WERE BOTH TOO TIRED TO SLEEP.
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SO WE TOOK TURNS A STARIN', OUT THE WINDOW AT THE DARKNESS,
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'TIL BOREDOM OVER-TOOK US, AND HE BEGAN TO SPEAK.

VERSE 2:
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HE SAID "SON I'VE MADE A LIFE, OUT OF READIN' PEOPLE'S FACES,
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AND KNOWIN' WHAT THEIR CARDS WERE, BY THE WAY THEY HELD THEIR EYES.
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SO IF YOU DON'T MIND MY SAYIN', I CAN SEE YOU'RE OUT OF ACES.
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FOR A TASTE OF YOUR WHISKEY I'LL, GIVE YOU SOME AD-VICE."

VERSE 3: (* = single strum)
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SO I HANDED HIM MY BOTTLE, AND HE DRANK DOWN MY LAST SWALLOW.
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THEN HE BUMMED A CIGARETTE, AND ASKED ME FOR A LIGHT.
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AND THE NIGHT GOT DEATHLY QUIET, AND HIS FACE LOST ALL EX-PRESSION.
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SAID, "IF YOU'RE GONNA PLAY THE GAME BOY, YOU GOTTA
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LEARN TO PLAY IT RIGHT.”

CHORUS: (* = single strum)

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“YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM, KNOW WHEN TO FOLD 'EM,
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KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY, AND KNOW WHEN TO RUN.
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YOU NEVER COUNT YOUR MONEY, WHEN YOU'RE SITTIN' AT THE TABLE.
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THERE'LL BE TIME ENOUGH FOR COUNTIN', WHEN THE DEALIN'S DONE.”

(** SLIDE CAPO UP TO 2ND FRET - STEPS UP A HALF STEP **)

D (for one measure)

VERSE 4:

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“EV'RY GAMBLER KNOWS, THAT THE SECRET TO SUR-VIVIN' IS
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KNOWIN' WHAT TO THROW AWAY, AND KNOWING WHAT TO KEEP.
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'CAUSE EV'RY HAND'S A WINNER, AND EV'RY HAND'S A LOSER,
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AND THE BEST THAT YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS TO, DIE IN YOUR SLEEP.”

VERSE 5: (* = single strum)
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AND WHEN HE'D FINISHED SPEAKIN', HE TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE WINDOW,
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CRUSHED OUT HIS CIGARETTE, AND FADED OFF TO SLEEP.
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AND SOMEWHERE IN THE DARKNESS, THE GAMBLER HE BROKE EVEN.
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BUT IN HIS FINAL WORDS I FOUND AN ACE THAT I COULD KEEP.

CHORUS 3X: (SECOND TIME IS VOCALS ONLY / * = single strum)