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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael
Composer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
This is a story of a very unfortunate colored man
Who got arrested down in old Hong Kong
He got 20 year privilege taken away from him
When he kicked old Buddha's gong
[Verse 2]
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 what he says
[Verse 3]
I need someone to love me
I need somebody to carry me home
To San Francisco
And bury my body there
[Verse 4]
I need someone to lend me
A fifty-dollar bill and then
I'll leave Hong Kong far behind me
For happiness once again
[Verse 5]
Won't someone believe
I've a yen to see that Bay again?
But each time I try to leave
Sweet opium won't let me fly away
[Verse 6]
I need someone to love me
Need somebody to carry me home
To San Francisco
And bury my body there
Written by: Hoagy Carmichael
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