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The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines Lyrics

I'm down to a roll of dimes
I'm stalking the slot that's hot
I keep hearing bells all around me
Jingling in the lucky jackpots
They keep you tantalized
They keep you reaching for your wallet
Here in fools' paradise!

I talked to a cat from Des Moines
He said he ran a cleaning plant
That cat was clanking with coin
Well, he must have had a genie in a lamp
'cause everytime---I dropped a dime---I blew it
He kept ringing bells
Nothing to it!

He got three oranges
Three lemons
Three cherries
Three plums
I'm losing my taste for fruit!
Watching the dry cleaner do it
Like Midas in a polyester suit
It's all luck!
It's just luck!
You get a little lucky and you make a little money!

I followed him down the strip
He picked out a booth at Circus Circus
Where the cowgirls fill the room
With their big balloons
The Cleaner was pitching with purpose!
He had Dinos and Pooh Bears
And lions---pink and blue there
He could not lose there!

Des Moines was stacking the chips
Raking off the tables
Ringing the bandit's bells
This is a story that's a drag to tell
(In some ways)
Since I lost every dime
I layed on the line
But the cleaner from Des Moines
Could put a coin
In the door of a John
And get twenty for one
It's just luck!
Song Info
Submitted by
lizardgirl On Jul 02, 2002
2 Meanings

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Cover art for The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines lyrics by Joni Mitchell

wow. she just weaves everywhere with no one to back her up in the first half of the song. waits more than half way through to let the bass and sax come in. poetic

Cover art for The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines lyrics by Joni Mitchell

This song is such a tremendous amount of fun. I love it!

 
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