The Gamer (Kenny Rogers)

On a warm summer’s eve, on a coach bound for nowhere,
I met up with a gamer; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin’ through the curtain at the darkness
’Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, son, I’ve made a life explorin' dangerous places,
My future depending on some polyhedral dice.
So if you don’t mind my sayin’, I know broadswords, dirks and maces.
For a swig from your grog-flask, I’ll give you some advice.

So I poured him a goblet and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he cast the knucklebones and invoked the Second Sight.
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 treasure when you’re sittin’ at the table.
There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the quest is done.

Now ev’ry gamer knows that the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
’Cause each PC’s a winner and each PC'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,
The Spirit faded from hi, and he fell fast asleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gamer, he broke even.
But in his words I found experience points I could keep.

So I poured him a goblet and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he cast the knucklebones and invoked the Second Sight.
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 treasure when you’re sittin’ at the table.
There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the quest is done.

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