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.