Harlem in Havana - Joni Mitchell

At the far end of the midway

By the double ferris wheel

There’s a band that plays so snakey

You can’t help how you feel

Emmie Mae ran away

With a man as dark as night

You can see him, if you go there

Second trumpet to the right

They play «Night Train»

So snakey

Black girls dancing

Long and lanky

Barkers barking

Step right up, folks!

The show is about to begin

It’s Harlem in Havana time

Step right in!

Silver spangles

See 'em dangle in the farm boy’s eyes

Hootchie kootchie

Auntie Ruthie would’ve cried

If she knew we were on the inside

When Emmie Mae ran away

She came back a bottle blonde

God!

The gossips had a gourmet feast

Chomping on how she was born

But miracle of miracles

Cuz we were underage

She got us nearly front row seats

To the right side of the stage

See that tall girl?

That’s a man

That one, too

Big yellow feather fan

Barkers barking

Step right up, folks!

The show is about to begin

It’s Harlem in Havana time

Step right in!

Silver spangles

See 'em dangle in the farm boy’s eyes

Hootchie kootchie

Auntie Ruthie would’ve died

If she knew we were on the inside