(Verse 1)
Streets are gay
On de way
All de alleys done turned out

Mistah Giles
Wid Miss Liles
Make a figure widout doubt

Hyeah dey come
Lord dat drum
In de black ban' holds de sway

'cept de brass
Give it sass
On Emancipation day

Darkies standin on tip toe
Makin goo-goos at de show

(Chorus)
On Emancipation day
All you white fo'ks clear de way
Brass ban' playin sev'ral tunes
Darkies eyes look jes' la'k moons
Marshall of de day a struttin'
Lord but he is gay
Coons dressed up lak Masqueraders
Porters armed lak rude invaders
When dey hear dem ragtime tunes
White fo'ks try to pass fo' coons
On Emancipation day

(Verse 2)
Heah um cry
My oh my
When de 'cession shows its head

Majors brown
Ridin' down
On cart hosses decked in red

Teeth lak pearls
Greet the girls
Standin' dere lak dusky storms

Oh! my pet
What a set
Of owdacious Uniforms

Generals stiff as hick'ry sticks
In de dress of seventy six
(Chorus)
On Emancipation day
All you white fo'ks clear de way
Brass ban' playin sev'ral tunes
Darkies eyes look jes' la'k moons
Marshall of de day a struttin'
Lord but he is gay

Coons dressed up lak Masqueraders
Porters armed lak rude invaders
When dey hear dem ragtime tunes
White fo'ks try to pass fo' coons
On Emancipation day