Tassels in the morning, tassels in the morning sky
Womanchild on the side street
Flashing in blackpatch
Socks and bells and nightgowns
In blackpatch, in blackpatch
Lipstick on her reefer
He got his mean streak from the gutter
Ready, ready, ready, ready
I'm ready, I'm ready
Clothespins on wash ropes
People, are you ready?
(Ready, ready)
Window to window tie
At my party in the morning tide
(Ready, I'm ready)
Ooh, la, la, la, blackpatch
Ooh, la, la, la, blackpatch
Carry coal to the city in white dock liners
Happiness on the uptown side
Got his kindness from God
People, are you trying?
Ooh, la, la, la, blackpatch
Now tugboats paint the river