Lyrics to
The Gambler

This version of The Gambler was released by Kenny Rogers in 2004.

Our Kenny Rogers Songs profile has The Gambler lyrics from 2004 and most if not all of the lyrics by Kenny Rogers that we have here at Decade Lyrics.

Here's more interesting things in songs and lyrics tied to Kenny Rogers or about the 2000s in general.

The original version of this song was released by Kenny Rogers in 1977, with “The Gambler” becoming his personal and professional trademark song until his death in 2018. The song was re-released in the 2000s and is popular in many foreign countries, with a sizable following building up for Kenny Rogers even in Korea, where he is still popular after his death.

In the early 1980’s, building upon his mainstream success as a country singer, Kenny Rogers acted as the lead role in a TV movie with the same name as the song. He played Brady Hawkes, a poker player in the Wild West who sets out to find a son he has never met. During the story, he befriends a character played by Bruce Boxleitner, an amateur at gambling who, guess what, needs to learn from Kenny Rogers when to hold ‘em, when to fold ‘em, when to walk away – and when to run.

Who better than to teach Boxleitner’s character (Billy Montana) than The Gambler himself. The movie was pretty popular and ended up with 4 different sequels.  With The Gambler at his side, there’s no way Billy Montana couldn’t win at online gambling at Real66. Brady Hawkes and Billy Montana fighting over a laptop in a fifth sequel may not be an Oscar winner, but it sure would be relevant for the times.

On a warm summer’s eve
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
The boredom overtook us, he began to speak

He 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 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 faced lost all expression
He said, “If you’re gonna play the game, boy
You gotta learn to play it right

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
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

Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away
And knowin’ what to keep
‘Cause every hand’s a winner
And every hand’s a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep”

And when he 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
And in his final words
I found an ace that I could keep

You’ve 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’ve 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’ve 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

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Kenny Rogers has released many songs over the years besides The Gambler. Kenny Rogers released songs from 2004 to 2004 spanning across albums like . Decade Lyrics has over lyrics & songs by Kenny Rogers.

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