Surabaya Johnny

I was only a child when I met you.
You came up from the Burma Lagoon.
You said, "Would you like a bit of travel?"
You promised all but the moon.
I asked you what you did for a living.
You swore, "God's my witness," to me.
That you worked for the railroad people,
and you would never follow the sea.

You said a lot, Johnny.
Not a word was true, Johnny.
You betrayed me, Johnny
from the moment we met.
I hate you so Johnny.
Don't stand there grinning, Johnny.
And take that pipe out of your mouth, you rat.

Surabaya Johnny,
why'd you treat me so wrong?
Surabaya, Johnny,
my god, and I do love you so.
Surabaya, Johnny,
why am I feeling so low?
You have no heart, Johnny.
And I do love you so.

At first, it was always Sunday,
as long as I pleased you at night.
But only a few weeks later,
not a thing that I did was right.
Up and down we tramped through the Punjab,
by a river along to the sea.
But now when I look in the mirror,
there's a broken face that I see.

You wanted no love, Johnny.
You wanted the loot, Johnny.
But your lips, Johnny,
I could never forget.
You asked for everything, Johnny,
I gave you more, Johnny.
And take that pipe out of your mouth, you rat.

Surabaya, Johnny.
Why'd treat me so wrong?
Surabaya, Johnny,
my god, and I do love you so.
Surabaya, Johnny.
Why am I feeling so low?
You have no heart, Johnny,
and I do love you so.

I wish I had paid more attention
to that nickname of yours and the rest.
All along that bloody awful coastline,
you have been a notorious guest.
In a sixpence-a-night bed one morning,
I will wake to the thunder of the sea.
And your ship will be leaving the harbor,
and you won't even wave to me.

You have no heart, Johnny!
You're just a bastard, Johnny!
Why did you leave me, Johnny?
Can you tell me that?
I love you more, Johnny,
than the first night, Johnny.
And take that pipe out of your mouth, you rat.

Surabaya, Johnny.
Why'd you treat me so wrong?
Surabaya, Johnny,
my god, and I do love you so.
Surabaya, Johnny.
Why am I feeling so low?
You have no heart, Johnny.
And I do love you so.

By Kurt Weil

If you have RealPlayer installed, and speakers, you can see and hear the German singer Dagmar Krause perform this song, by clicking on "this link.".

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