Leader Of the Laundromat
Artists: The Detergents (peak Billboard position # 19 in 1964)
(parody of the Shangri-las' ?Leader Of the Pack)
The Detergents included the ubiquitous Ron Dante who, on his own, used multi-
track solos to create the Archies (?Sugar, Sugar?) and the Cuff Links (?Tracy?)
Words and Music by Lee Pockriss and Paul Vance
< > = sound effect
[ ]= spoken
( )= sung by backup group
<piano chord>
(humming)
[Is he really goin' out with ?er? I don't know. Look, here he comes now. Let's ask
?im. <piano chord> Hey, Murray, is it true Betty's wearin' your ring? Uh-huh.
<piano chord> Who's that bangin' on the piano? I don't know. You goin' out with
her tonight? You bet yer fur. By the way, where'd ya meet her? ]
I met her one day at the Laundromat.
[She turned around and smiled at me, ya get the picture? Yes, we see.]
And that's when I fell in love with the Leader Of the Laundromat
<sound of motorcycle revving>
My folks were always putting her down (down, down)
Because her laundry came back brown (brown, brown)
I don't care if they think she's bad
I fell in love cuz she looked so sad
I got a date tonight with the Leader Of the Laundromat
<motorcycle revs, sputters, and stalls>
[Dang it!!]
My dad said ?Find a laundry that's new? (find a laundry that's new)
How can I tell my baby we're through (tell my baby we're through)
Gotta drive right into town
I don't care if my shirts are brown
I got a date tonight with the Leader Of the Laundromat
<motorcycle revs, sputters, and stalls>
[Dang it!!]
[When I finally got there, I told her it was all over between us. I'll never forget the
hurt and the funny look in her eye. She grabbed my laundry and ran into the street,
directly into the path of a runaway garbage truck. I yelled ?watch out !, watch out !,
watch out !, watch out !, watch ou-u-t ! ?
<screeching brakes, crash, sound of breaking glass and falling metal parts>
[Dang it!!]
I felt so messy standing there (messy standing there)
My daddy's shorts were everywhere (daddy's shorts were everywhere)
Tenderly I kissed her goodbye
Picked up my clothes, they were finally dry
But I won't forget you, oh Leader Of the Laundromat
<motorcycle finally runs smoothly>
(oh-oh-oh-oh)
<piano chord>
(ooh--ooh?ooh?ooh)
<piano chord>
[Who's that bangin' on the piano?
I don't know.]
Transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz
ronhontz@worldnet.att.net
