IT'S THE STORY OF A VERY UNFORTUNATE COLOURED MAN
WHO GOT ARRESTED DOWN IN OLD HONG KONG.
HE GOT TWENTY YEARS' PRIVILEGE TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM
WHEN HE KICKED OLD BUDDHA'S GONG.
NOW HE'S POPPIN' THE PIANO JUST TO RAISE THE PRICE
OF A TICKET TO THE LAND OF THE FREE.
WELL, HE SAYS HIS HOME'S IN 'FRISCO
WHERE THEY SEND THE RICE,
BUT IT'S REALLY IN TENNESSEE.
THAT'S WHY HE SAYS;
I NEED SOMEONE TO LOVE ME,
I NEED SOMEBODY TO CARRY ME HOME TO SAN FRANCISCO
AND BURY MY BODY THERE.
I NEED SOMEONE TO LEND ME A FIFTY-DOLLAR BILL AND THEN
I'LL LEAVE HONG KONG BEHIND ME
FOR HAPPINESS ONCE AGAIN.
WON'T SOMEBODY BELIEVE,
I'VE A YEN TO SEE THAT BAY AGAIN.
EV'RYTIME I TRY TO LEAVE,
SWEET OPIUM WON'T LET ME FLY AWAY.
I NEED SOMEONE TO LOVE ME,
I NEED SOMEBODY TO CARRY ME HOME TO SAN FRANCISCO
AND BURY MY BODY THERE.
THAT'S THE STORY OF A VERY UNFORTUNATE COLOURED MAN
WHO GOT ARRESTED DOWN IN OLD HONG KONG.
HE GOT TWENTY YEARS' PRIVILEGE TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM
WHEN HE KICKED OLD BUDDHA'S GONG.