The Gambler - Kenny Rogers

This would be my second blog about a Kenny Rogers' song. This song reminds me of an extended family member who lived with us when I was still younger. He is Johnny but we fondly call him "Emong". He is a certified gambler, I say because there was not a week that he hadn't held a gambling cards or a mah-jong piece.

One time this song played and he kinda enjoyed it, even to the point of defending himself saying "see, it's not just me" or to such an extent. There was an implication that he was not alone in this kind of vice, add to that my mom's "addiction" to gambling as well. The good thing about that though is noone in my family encountered much trouble because of gambling. They played in moderation and according to their economic condition. They didn't end up selling valuable things nor stealing like other people do. Otherwise, I couldn't have finished schooling if my mom got stucked with gambling.

Well, if there is any good effect on me from that experience... I do not play. In fact, I don't even know how to play the lotto. haha! Nevertheless, I am sharing this to you because of my love of Kenny Rogers and his songs. This is nice so here it is:

Lyrics of the song The Gambler:
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.

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."

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.

The gambler - kenny rogers