Song

“HARLEM IN HAVANA”
by Joni Mitchell (Taming the Tiger, 1998)

Read the article from FaroutmagazineUK – Recalling the inspiration behind ‘Harlam Havana’, Mitchell once recalled one of her childhood summers when she still lived in Canada. “The highlight of the summer, when I was growing up in Saskatoon, Canada, was the week the fair came to town,” she began. “At the end of the mile-long midway, there were two adult, Vegas-style shows – Club Lido and Harlem In Havana. Parents seemed to be scared by Harlem In Havana. ‘Don’t let me catch you there!’ Every kid I knew got that instruction. Every hour or so (if you wanted to), you could hear the barker shouting through the roar of the crowds and rides, ‘Step right up folks – it’s Harlem In Havana time!’ Read more.

LYRICS

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.

© 1998; Joni Mitchell. Visit jonimitchell.com to listen or learn more.