Words by Joni Mitchell Music by Larry Klein and Joni Mitchell He In a shopping mall Finally met the perfect girl She is all that matters The only one in all the world Like a Barbie doll Oh love is snakes and ladders Snakes and ladders She Just to have and hold Is the perfect air-brushed angel Makes you hot just looking at her Stapled into all his braincells Like a centerfold Oh love is snakes and ladders Snakes and ladders Get to the top and slide back down Get to the bottom climb back up Buy the townhouse Call the preacher Get to the bottom climb back up Get to the top and slide back down Get to the bottom climb back up Set up credit for the lovely creature The lovely creature He On a corporate climb Set his sights on power for her On a silver platter He gave up happy hour for her Perrier and lime Oh love is snakes and ladders Snakes and ladders She In a handsome world Put her mind to social graces All the privileged chatter Setting pretty table places For the girls in pearls Oh love is snakes and ladders Snakes and ladders Get to the top and slide back down Get to the bottom climb back up Buy the carphone-- Call the broker Get to the bottom climb back up Get to the top and slide back down Get to the bottom climb back up Buy the wife a diamond choker A diamond choker True love--true love--true love He's so nervous New love--new love--new love When he's with her Oh--he's wasting away True love--true love--true love It's so curious New love--new love--new love Just to kiss her To kiss her--to kiss her--to kiss her To kiss her--to kiss her--to kiss her To kiss her he has to shave She In the gilded mirrors In the swing of fancy places Where the black ties flatter Started seeing other faces Young-fogie-financiers Oh love is snakes and ladders Snakes and ladders See In the crimes of time How the seasons steal away How the rungs are shattered First you're green then you're grey Still the snakes unwind Still playin' snakes and ladders Snakes and ladders Get to the top and slide back down Get to the bottom climb back up Sell the vineyard Call the lawyer Get to the bottom climb back up Get to the top and slide back down Get to the bottom climb back up Gather garbage to destroy her To destroy her Ladders--ladders--ladders The perfect girl Ladders--ladders--ladders The paper chase Love is snakes and ladders Ladders--ladders--ladders The social whirl Ladders--ladders The rat race Barbie doll