The Card Cheat

  C
There's a solitary man cryin', "Hold me"
  C
It's only because he's a'lonely
  C
And if the keeper of time runs slowly
  C
He won't be alive for long!
  F                                                             C
If he only had time to tell of all of the things he planned
  G
With a card up his sleeve, what would he achieve?
  F  Em  G
It means nothin'
  C
To the opium dens and the barroom gin
  C
In the Belmont chair playing violin
  C
The gambler's face cracks into a grin
  C
As he lays down the king of spades
  F
But the dealer just stares
  F                                          C
"There's something wrong here", he thinks
  G
The gambler is seized and forced to his knees
  F  Em  G
And shot dead

[Interlude]
  C

[Verse]
  F
He only wanted more time
  F                      C
Away from the darkest door
  G
But his luck it gave in
  G
As the dawn light crept in
  F  Em  G
And he lay on the floor
  C
From the Hundred Year War to the Crimea
  C
With a lance and a musket and a Roman spear
  C
To all of the men who have stood with no fear
  C
In the service of the King
  F
Before you met your fate
  F                        C
Be sure you did not forsake
  G
Your lover
  F  Em  G
May not be around anymore

[Interlude]
  C F C G   F  Em  G

[Verse]
  C
There's a solitary man cryin', "Hold me"
  C
It's only because he's a'lonely
  C
And if the keeper of time runs slowly
  C
He won't be alive for long!