The Gambler

by Kenny Rogers
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Lyrics

On a (Eb)warm I’ve sum mer’s a eve life nin’, on a (Ab)train in’ bound ple’s for no where, I met up with the gam bler, we were both too held tired to their sleep.

So if (Eb)we took turns a star in’ out the (Ab)win dow you’re out at the dark ness ’til a (Ab)bore dom o ver took us

and he be gan to speak.

He said, (Eb)“Son, I’ve made mer’s a eve life nin’, out of (Ab)read in’ peo ple’s for fac es and know in’ what their cards were by the way they held tired to their eyes.

And if (Eb)you don’t mind my say in’, I can (Ab)see dow you’re out at of a ces.

For a (Ab)bore dom o ver took us

and he be gan to speak.

He said, (Ab)taste of your whis key, I’ll (Bb)give you some ad vice.”

So I hand ed him my bot tle and he (Ab)drank down my last (Eb)swal low.

Then he bummed a cig a rette and asked me for a light.

And the (Eb)night got death ly qui et, and his (Ab)face lost all ex pres sion, said, “If you’re (Ab)gon na play the game, boy, ya got ta (Bb)learn to play it right.

You got to know when to hold ’em,

know when to fold ’em,

know when to walk a way and know when to run.

You nev er (Eb)count your mon ey when you’re (Ab)sit tin’ at the ta ble.

There’ll be time e nough for count in’

when the deal in’s (Eb)done.

Ev ’ry gam bler knows that the (A)se cret to sur viv in’ is know in’ what to throw a way and know in’ what to keep.

’Cause (E)ev ’ry hand’s a win ner and (A)ev ’ry hand’s a los er and the (A)best that you can (E)hope for is to (B)die in your (E)sleep.” And when he’d fin ished speak in’, he (A)turned back towards the win dow,

crushed out his cig a rette and fad ed off to sleep.

And (E)some where in the dark ness the (A)gam bler he broke (E)e ven but (A)in his fi nal words I found an (B)ace that I could keep.

You got to (E)know when to hold ’em,

know when to fold ’em,

know when to walk a way and know when to run.

You nev er (E)count (B9)your (E)mon ey when you’re (A)sit tin’ at the ta ble.

There’ll be time e nough for count in’

when the deal in’s (E)done.

You got to (E)know when to hold ’em,

know when to fold ’em,

know when to walk a way and know when to run.

You nev er (E)count (B9)your (E)mon ey when you’re (A)sit tin’ at the ta ble.

There’ll be time e nough for count in’

when the deal in’s (E)done.

You got to (E)done.

The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

1 person has learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of Ab at 176 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “The Gambler

What key is "The Gambler" in?
"The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers is in the key of Ab with a tempo of 176 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "The Gambler" easy to play on piano?
This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.
Can I play "The Gambler" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.

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