Lyric

Ragdoll! Ragtime! Hop off the shelf!

Trick or treat? I'll trick the Devil himself!

Button eyes on the windowsill

Calico smirk, gotta sit so still

Every night I watch you practice, dear—

Left foot, right foot, oops, the floor's right here!

Big recital comin' round the bend

And your shoes keep fightin' with the second hand

Quit your sniffles, sugar, wipe that runny nose—

Your raggedy friend's got a trick in her toes

October thirty-first, the moon hung high

The veil's worn thin as a moth-bit sky

Cotton heart goes thump, thump, thump—

One, two, three, and I'm ready to jump!

Ragdoll! Ragtime! Hop off the shelf!

Trick or treat? I'll trick the Devil himself!

Shake every gutter and kick every vane

There's calico lightning all over the lane!

Cakewalk, cakewalk, spit in his eye—

I'll button the moon to the coat of the sky!

One-and-a-two, on the off-beat too—

Midnight's comin', but I'm dancin' for you!

Knock, knock, knock on the bedroom door

Shiny shoes on the creaky floor

Horns and a leer and a sharkskin tie—

"Little doll, your hourglass is runnin' dry

Sign right here and I'll let you stay

It's a mere formality, sweetheart—sign away."

Ha! I'm stuffed with cotton, got no soul to pay!

Jack-o'-lantern got you twice, and I'm number three—

Double or nothin', Mister: dance with me!

If you can't keep up, then you set me free!

Shh, she's sleepin', keep the music low

Tiptoe, tiptoe—out the window we go!

Hellfire brass struttin' down the street

Every chimney-pot kickin' up its feet

Cotton heart goes thump, thump, thump—

One, two, three, and we're ready to jump!

Ragdoll! Ragtime! Hop off the shelf!

Trick or treat? I'll trick the Devil himself!

Leap every gable and slide down the rail

Swing by the steeple and step on his tail!

Cakewalk, cakewalk, spit in his eye—

I'll button the moon to the coat of the sky!

Hoof it, Mister, on the off-beat too—

Midnight's comin', but I'm dancin' for you!

Step! (Step!) Skip! (Skip!) Hit it on the "and"!

Watch your hooves, Mister, ain't it grand?

Trip on the two, stumble on the four—

Hey, Mr. Devil, wanna dance some more?

Faster! (Faster!) Tail in a twist!

Bet you never danced with a doll like this!

Vamp till ready, Mister, vamp till you drop—

Cotton don't tire and the rag don't stop!

Dong... dong... no, not yet!

Stitches stiffen, button eyes set

Devil tips his hat: "Same time next year."

...Fine. Bring better shoes. I'll be right here

Mornin' sun on the windowsill

You rub your eyes and the house is still

Then you whistle a tune you've never heard

Swing in your step and you know every word

Curtain up in the hot white light

You hit every "and" like you danced all night—

Left foot, right foot, hey, look at you!

Who taught you that? ...Well, I wonder who

Ragdoll! Ragtime! Back on the shelf—

Next year I'll trick the Devil himself!

Clock can strike twelve, but I'm countin' thirteen

Cheekiest stitch that the Devil's ever seen!

Cakewalk, cakewalk, spit in his eye—

I'll button the moon to the coat of the sky!

One-and-a-two, on the off-beat too—

I'll be dancin', dancin', dancin' for you!

(Hm-hm, hm-hm-hm...)

Better practice, Mister... see you next year