Hong Kong Blues (Hoagy Carmichael)

It's the story of a very unfortunate colored 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 And 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 said, "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 Every time 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 colored 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