Lyrics Hoagy Carmichael

Hoagy Carmichael

Hong Kong Blues

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