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
Emmy may 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 leggy
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 boys' eyes
Hootchie kootchie
Auntie Ruthie would've cried
If she knew we were on the inside
When Emmy may ran away
She came back a bottle blonde
God! The gossips had a gourmet feast
Chomping on how she went wrong
But miracle of miracles
'Cause 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
With the 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 boys' eyes
Hootchie kootchie
Auntie Ruthie would've died
If she knew we were on the inside
© 1998; Joni Mitchell
Translate this page:
Follow Joni Mitchell
Comments:
Log in to make a comment
BridgeCity on :
Like Joni, I also grew up in Saskatoon, and, while I'm a few years younger, I can attest to what may have been some of her inspiration for "Harlem in Havana". The Saskatoon Exhibition ("The Ex") is the city's annual summer fair. And in the 60s and 70s it came complete with a double Ferris wheel at the far end of the midway. I also remember the cabaret-style shows with exotic entertainers, much like Joni describes. Good times...