It’s the story of a very unfortunate memphis 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 popping the piano just to raise the price
Of a ticket to the land of the free
Well, he says his home is in Frisco where they send the rice
But it’s really in Tennessee

That’s what 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 someone believe
I’ve a yen to see that bay again
Each time 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