The Song Of Surabaya-Johnny By Bertold Brecht 1929 Poem by Dr Ian Inkster

The Song of Surabaya-Johnny by Brecht 1929.

I was young, God, I was just sixteen
You came up from Burma in the night
And you said I should be your woman
You would always be treating me right.

I asked what you did for a living
And you said as you looked straight at me
You'd a job or something with the railroad
And you'd nothing to do with the sea.

You talked a lot Johnny a lot of lies Johnny
From the very first day, Johnny, you were nothing but a cheat
I hate you so Johnny, as you stand there grinning Johnny
Take that pipe out of yr mouth, you rat.

Sarabaya-Johnny, why must you be such a cad?
Surabaya-Johnny oh God and I love you so bad
Surabaya-Johnny, ah why should I be sad?
You have no heart Johnny, and I love you so bad.

At first it was always Sundays
If I just went along with it all
But it didn't last more than a fortnight
And the house of cards began to fall.

We were up and down through the Punjab
From the hills and right down to the sea;
When I look at myself in the mirror
I look like I'm forty-three.

It wasn't love Johnny You were after cash Johnny
But it was just yr lips Johnny, I was staring at.
You wanted it all Johnny and I gave you more Johnny
Take that pipe out of your mouth, you rat.

Sarabaya-Johnny, why must you be such a cad?
Surabaya-Johnny oh God and I love you so bad
Surabaya-Johnny, ah why should I be sad?
You have no heart Johnny, and I love you so bad.