The Gambler

"The Gambler" is a song originally performed by Kenny Rodgers that is covered by The Chipmunks in the album Urban Chipmunk. An abbreviated version is also included in the Alvin and the Chipmunks episode Miss Miller's Big Gamble, split into two pieces.

Album Version

Album

Episode

Alvin:
On a cold winter morning
On a school bus bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler
We were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin'
At windows at the darkness
The boredom overtook us and he began to speak

He said, "Son, I've made a life
Out of readin' people's faces
Knowin' what their cards were
By the way they held their eyes
So if you don't mind me sayin'
I can see you're out of aces
For a sip of your soda
I'll give you some advice"

So I handed him my bottle
And he drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a Twinkie
And he offered me a bit
And the day 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

The Chipmunks:
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

Alvin:
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
He finished eatin' all my lunch
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

The Chipmunks:
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

Episode Version

Album

Episode

Alvin:
On a cold winter morning
On a school bus bound for nowhere
I met up with a gambler
We were both too tired to sleep
So we took turns a-starin'
At window at the darkness
The boredom overtook us and he began to speak

He said, "Son, I've made a life
Out of readin' people's faces
And knowin' what their cards were
By the way they held their eyes

The Chipmunks:
You've got to know when to hold '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' is done"

You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin' is done"

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done"