Kenny Rogers – The Gambler

Songwriter: DON SCHLITZ



Released on November 15th, 1978



On a warm summer's evenin' 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
'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, "Son, I've made my life out of readin' people's faces,
And knowin' what their 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 face lost all expression.
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right."

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.

Now Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."

So when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards 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.

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



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Thoughts: Great lyrics, wonderful philosophy, superb guitar and an incredibly unforgettable manly voice of Kenny Rogers.





Philosophy!




We are always traveling in life without understanding or realizing where we are headed! "On a warm summer's evening on a train bound for nowhere" Till we find what we are supposed to do with are lives..... "I met up with the gambler" .....some find the gambler...many do not!




The writer looks at the life as gambling.....it is all about making right decisions at the right time and taking risks. You may win or you may lose....but you have to take the risks in life....the one who is lazy to even think about taking a risk....I would say...is taking the biggest risk in life!


The chorus says lot of things.....




"You got to know when to hold them," tells about patience - an important quality to take you up the corporate ladder



"know when to fold them," tells about the confidence and intuition you need to read the situation and take the risks!



"Know when to walk away and know when to run." tells about reading the future and foresee the possible problems and escape





And very important it say to never compare yourself with others. Do not be too proud if you are winning nor be sad if you feel you are losing......as he ends the chorus with...."You never count your money when you're sitting at the table.There'll be time enough for counting when the dealing is done."




The secret to surviving in life -the writer says is know what to keep in life and what throw away in life as the line goes......"Now Every gambler knows that the secret to surviving,is knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep." This is true I feel even about the material things, friends and relationships and also regarding desires, habits, dreams and wishes....





AND LAST but not the least......




"And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep." What a line that sums up every thing why we live our lives. Yes, it will be painful for your loved ones as it is an unexpected and sudden death and they will cry for you, missing you, even though, how little they love you!



But what is the opposite of this. You have a deadly disease and you are badly bed ridden and everybody pray why don't you die. And when you die no one will cry for you-even your loved ones!



So the bottom line is, in life you should have some one to cry sincerely, for you, when you die! That you have to earn it with the way of life you lead! May you be able realize what you love to do and do what you love!