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

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 says
I need someone to love me
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 far behind me
For happiness once again


Won't somebody believe
I've a yen to see that Bay again

Everytime I try to leave
Sweet opium won't let me fly away
I need someone to love me

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.