The Gambler - with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

About twenty years ago
 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'
 Through the window at the darkness
 'Til boredom overtook us
 And he commenced to speak
 He said, "Son, I've made a life
 Out of readin' people's faces
 And knowin' what their cards were
 By the way they held their eyes
 And if you don't mind my sayin'
 I would say you're out of aces
 And for one taste of your whiskey
 I will give you some advice"
 So I handed him my bottle
 And he drank down my last swallow
 Then he bummed a cigarette
 Then he bummed a light
 The night got deathly quiet
 And his face lost all expression
 He said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy
 You better learn to play it right"
 'Cause every gambler knows
 That the secret to survival
 Is knowin' what to throw away
 And knowin' what to keep
 And every hand's a winner
 Just like every hand's a loser
 And the best that you can hope for
 Is to die in your sleep
 You got to know when to hold 'em
 Know when to fold 'em
 Know when to walk away
 Know when to run
 You don't ever count your money
 While you're sittin' at the table
 There'll be time enough for countin'
 When the dealin' is done
 You got to know when to hold 'em
 Know when to fold 'em
 Know when to walk away
 Know when to run
 You don't ever count your money
 While you're sittin' at the table
 There'll be time enough for countin'
 When the dealin' is done
 And when he'd finished speakin'
 He turned back toward the window
 Put out his cigarette
 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
 Know when to run
 You don't ever count your money
 While you're sittin' at the table
 There'll be time enough for countin'
 When the dealin' is done
 You got to know when to hold 'em
 Know when to fold 'em
 Know when to walk away
 Know when to run
 You don't ever count your money
 While you're sittin' at the table
 There'll be time enough for countin'
 When the dealin' is done
 You got to know when to hold 'em (know when to hold 'em)
 Know when to fold 'em
 Know when to walk away
 Know when to run
 You don't ever count your money (your money)
 While you're sittin' at the table
 There'll be time enough for countin'
 When the dealin' is done