The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines Lyrics - Joni Mitchell

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 every time--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 couldn't 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 laid 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! 

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