C  C Dm C  C  C Dm C
C  C Dm C  C  C Dm C
F  F Dm C  C  G G  F C/E G/D G 

[Verse 1]
        C                       Dm   C
There's a solitary man crying  "Hold me"
                         Dm    C
It's only because he's a-lonely
                              Dm C
If the keeper of time runs slowly
                           Dm  C
He won't be alive for long!

[Chorus 1]
      F                                          C         Dm 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       C/E  G/D  G
It means nothing!

[Verse 2]
       C                        Dm   C
To the opium dens and the barroom gin
                              Dm  C
In the Belmont chair playing violins
                               Dm   C
The gambler's face cracks into a grin
                                Dm  C
As he lays down the king of spades

[Chorus 2]
        F     
But the dealer just stares
                                     C  Dm  C
There's something wrong here  he thinks
    G
The gambler is seized and forced to his knees
    F   C/E      G/D G
And shot.......... Dead

[Link] 
C C Dm C C C Dm C
C C Dm C C C Dm C

        F       
He only wanted more time
               C           Dm  C
Away from the darkest door
        G                        
But his luck it gave in  as the dawn light crept in
       F   C/E    G/D G
And he lay on the floor

[Verse 3]
C                                Dm   C
From the Hundred Year War to the Crimea
                                Dm    C
With a lance and a musket and a roman spear 
                                      Dm   C
To all of the men who have stood with no fear
                          Dm  C
In the service of the King

[Chorus 3]
  F                                   
Before you met your fate be sure you
        C       Dm  C
Did not forsake
     G                 F      C/E G/D  G
Your lover  may not be around anymore

[Link]
C    C    Dm  C    C    C Dm  C (x2)
F    F    Dm  C    C
G    G    F   C/E  G/D  G

[Verse 4]
          C                     Dm   C
There's a solitary man crying  "Hold me"
                            Dm  C
It's only because he's a-lonely
                              Dm  C
If the keeper of time runs slowly
                          Dm  C
He won't be alive for long!

[Outro]
F    F    C   Dm   C
G    G    F   C/E  G/D  G
C    C    Dm  C    C    C Dm  C (x2)
F    F    Dm  C    C
C    C    C   C
C    C    C   C