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