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