The Gambler chords by
Johnny Cash
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

N/A•

Key: A major•

Verse 1

G

G

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About 20 years ago,

C

C

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G

G

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on a train bound for nowhere,

I met up with The Gambler,

D

D

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We were both too tired to sleep.

G

G

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So we took turns a starin' through the

C

C

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G

G

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window at the darkness.

C

C

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G

G

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Til' boredom overtook us and

D

D

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G

G

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he commenced to speak.

Verse 2

G

G

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He said: "Son, I've made a life out of

C

C

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G

G

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readin' people's faces,

"And knowin' what their cards were,

D

D

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by the way they held their eyes.

G

G

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"And if you don't mind my sayin',

C

C

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G

G

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I would say you're out of aces,

C

C

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G

G

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"And for one taste of your whiskey,

D

D

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G

G

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I will give you some advice."

Verse 3

G

G

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So I handed him my bottle,

C

C

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G

G

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and he drank down my last swallow.

Then he bummed a cigarette,

D

D

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then he bummed a light.

G

G

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The night got deathly quiet and

C

C

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G

G

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his face lost all expression.

C

C

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G

G

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He said: "If you're gonna play the game,

D

D

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G

G

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boy, you better learn to play it right."

Verse 4

G

G

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"'Cos ev'ry gambler knows

C

C

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that the secret to survival,

G

G

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"Is knowin' what to throw away

and knowin' what to keep.

D

D

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G

G

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"And every hand's a winner,

C

C

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G

G

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just like every hand's a loser.

C

C

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G

G

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"And the best that you can hope for

D

D

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G

G

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is to die in your sleep.

Verse 5

G

G

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"You got to know when to hold 'em,

C

C

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G

G

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know when to fold 'em.

C

C

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G

G

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"Know when to walk away,

D

D

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know when to run.

G

G

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"You don't ever count your money while

C

C

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G

G

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you're sittin' at the table.

C

C

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G

G

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"There'll be time enough for countin'

D

D

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G

G

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when the dealin' is done."

Verse 6

G

G

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"You got to know when to hold

C

C

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G

G

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'em, know when to fold 'em.

C

C

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G

G

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"Know when to walk away,

D

D

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know when to run.

G

G

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"You don't ever count your money while

C

C

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G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

you're sittin' at the table.

C

C

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G

G

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"There'll be time enough for countin'

D

D

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G

G

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when the dealin' is done."

Verse 7

G

G

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And when he finished speakin',

C

C

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G

G

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he turned back t'ward the window.

Put out his cigarette,

D

D

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faded off to sleep.

G

G

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And somewhere in the darkness,

C

C

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G

G

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the gambler he broke even.

C

C

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G

G

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But in his fi nal words I found an

D

D

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G

G

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ace that I could keep.

Verse 8

G

G

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"You got to know when to hold 'em,

C

C

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G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

know when to fold 'em.

C

C

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G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

"Know when to walk away,

D

D

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know when to run.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

"You don't ever count your money while

C

C

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G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

you're sittin' at the table.

C

C

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G

G

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"There'll be time enough for countin'

D

D

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G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

when the dealin' is done."

Verse 9

G

G

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"You got to know when to hold 'em,

know when to fold 'em.

C

C

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G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

"Know when to walk away,

G

G

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D

D

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know when to run.

G

G

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"You don't ever count your money while

C

C

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G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

you're sittin' at the table.

"There'll be time enough for countin'

when the dealin' is done."

Verse 10

G

G

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"You got to know when to hold

C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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'em, know when to fold 'em.

G

G

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"Know when to walk away,

D

D

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know when to run.

G

G

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"You don't ever count your money

C

C

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G

G

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while you're sittin' at the table.

C

C

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G

G

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"There'll be time enough for countin'

D

D

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G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

when the dealin' is done."

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An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

Chords

G
C
D

Capo: 2

Transpose: 0

0

Autoscroll20%

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Frequently asked questions

The original key of The Gambler by Johnny Cash, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is A major.

The primary chords used in The Gambler are A, D, E.

To play in the original key, place your capo on the 2 fret.

Yes, this version uses open chords like A, D, E, making it a great song for beginner guitarists.

The tempo of The Gambler is approximately 98 beats per minute.

You can easily change the key of The Gambler using our Transpose button located in the toolbar. This will automatically update all chord diagrams on the page to match your new key.

Yes! Click the Print icon to generate a clean, one-page version of the chords and lyrics for The Gambler. This is perfect for practicing offline or adding to a physical songbook.

Yes, we have integrated a Mini-Tuner directly on this page. Use it to quickly check your string pitch (Standard Tuning: E A D G B E) before you start playing along with Johnny Cash, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Absolutely. Click the Save or Heart icon to add The Gambler to your account. You can access all your saved songs under My Library at any time.

You can view the full chord sheet and lyrics for The Gambler by Johnny Cash, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on this page for free. We provide high-quality, verified chords to help you start playing immediately.