Philosophy and Gambling

Last night I was talking to my best friend and she starting singing this old song.  Ok, she was more like singing it and giggling at the same time which, of course, sent me into a fit of the giggles.  A few lines into it, she stopped because her giggling had gotten out of control.  At that point, I HAD to finish the song because I know it all too well.  All of those road trips with my parents playing both oldies and country music didn't pay off for nothing.

"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."

~From "The Gamber"

Song writer, Don Schlitz,

Sung by Kenny Rogers.

Now we all know that the song is about a gambler and poker. That's more than obvious.  What else does the song say though?

After sending her a link and listening to the song again (and singing along)  I got to thinking about the chorus specifically.  The rest of the song is great, but the chorus.  The chorus has a lot to say.  Here's my take on it :)

Know when to hold them
Well....hold them refers to the cards during a round of poker. In poker, when you hold them, you've got a good hand so you keep them in the hopes that yours is the best hand and you win when it's all said and done.  I could also mean other things.  I think this line is about knowing when you keep things in your life, like friends or lovers.  I suppose it could be about anything that's good.  You gotta hold on to the good things and the good people in your life, right?

Know when to fold them.
As we all know, when you fold, you put all of your cards down on the table and quit playing that particular hand. You stay at the table and wait for the next round in the hopes that next time around, you'll be dealt a royal flush and be the envy of the table.  In the big scheme of things, maybe this line means, be patient.  Wait it out.  Your big winning hand will come.  You gotta play, if you want to win, but be patient. Your time will come.

Know when to walk away
Now if you've ever played poker, usually this happens when you run out of money.  So you run out of money and you can't bet so it's time to pack it up and walk away. In life, this can happen when you've exhausted everything you can do whether it's in a relationship or business deal and it's time to say goodbye.

Know when to run.
Now, I've only seen this happen a few times at a poker table and that was when some asshat was trying or successfully cheating and got caught.  Run.  Get the hell out of Dodge cause the other players are going to come for you.  I guess in life this line can represent any threat or bad situation that walking away from just isn't quick enough.  Who hasn't been there before.

The next two lines are basically about gloating and pride.  Counting your money at a poker table especially if you are winning is beyond rude.  In life, it's the same thing.  Don't brag or be boastful with your friends. It can be a point of contention and it's rude.

So there you have it. My odd take on fabulous song with very good, philosophical lyrics.  Do you have any songs that when you hear them, the lyrics have a deeper meaning for you? 

Kenny Rogers singing "The Gambler" LIVE!