The El Cortez is the gold in my vein Since my poor wife finally killed her pain I'll become the man that time forgot Drip by drip, drop by drop She prayed and prayed to the weeping one Who kept her mouth on the mouth of her gun Those tears that leave you to rot Drip by drip, drop by drop To the slots I go every day I know the tide will go my way If I give up hope what have I got Drip by drip, drop by drop An angel's wing brushed the penny slots A spinning star, an ancient plot To the lights what we call luck Is how they fly Escape the plot I was 10 dollars down when she appeared With klieg light wings my eyes they teared Tried to rise to her but the carpet I caught Drip by drip, drop by drop If that was death then it's not so bad She held me close and she said "On the wheel of fortune the winnings never stop" Drip by drip, drop by drop An angel's wing brushed the penny slots And tried to wake my weak heart up And when I fell she read all my thoughts Did not run She helped me up And the El Cortez still welcomes me Guess if you die on their floor the drinks are all free And I will roll high, just wait and see Now lady luck has punched my clock Drip by drip, drop by drop