"Wipe those counters, wipe 'em fast
Your next paycheck is gonna be your last
If you don't roll it over, give 'em Coca-Cola
Lemon soda, vanilla ice cream
Takes soap & water for to keep it clean"

At three o'clock, when the school bells tone
The kids all count their change and head to Kokomo Joe's
They come strolling over, calling out orders
For lemon soda, vanilla ice cream
Takes soap and water for to keep it clean

"Time is money, Boy, you're spendin' mine
Every doorbell jingle is another dime
Go on and roll it over, give 'em Coca-Cola
Lemon soda, vanilla ice cream
Takes soap & water for to keep it clean"

Girls with their sweethearts, dressed so neat
Look right through a man flipping meat
I just throw down some coasters 'round their notebooks & folders
Hair down their shoulders clouds my mind with day dreams
Takes soap & water for to keep 'em clean

"Get your eyes of the girls, get that coffee warm
You tryin' to get lucky in that uniform?
Bring out the orders, like you're supposed to
Don't talk to no one, you understand me?
Takes soap & water for to keep it clean"

"There's an old saying, Son, let me pass it on
With a broom in his hands a man can do no wrong
It's all in the shoulder, just like I showed you"
Hour gets closer, sweating through the steam
Takes soap & water for to keep it clean

When the stools are empty and the floor is shining clean
I roll a cigarette and listen to that juke machine
I roll it over, pop in a quarter
Think it over, feeling low & mean
Be back tomorrow for to keep it clean

The room fills up with the smoke and the sound
I think about the way I'm going to leave this town
It's like I sold my soul here, following orders
Every "Yes, Ma'am" and "No, Sir"
But I can see it in my dreams
It takes a poor man's hands for to keep it clean