Surabaya-Johnny [English translation]

I was young, God, I was just sixteen then,

when you came up from Burma one day.

And you told me to go with you

you would pay for us two.

I asked for your profession

and you said as sure as I'm standing here,

you would work for the railway

and have no dealings with the sea.

You said a lot, Johnny.

no single word was the truth

you cheated me, Johnny,

right from the start.

I hate you so much, Johnny,

as you stand and smirk, Johnny.

Take that pipe out of your face, you bastard!

Surabaya-Johnny. why are you so mean?

Surabaya-Johnny.

My God, and I love you so much!

Surabaya-Johnny. why I'm not joyful?

You don't have a heart, Johnny

and I love you so much.

At the beginning you feigned to be a gentleman,

until I left and went with you.

but it took only two weeks

until I couldn't please you at all.

You dragged me all over the Punjab*,

along the river down to the sea.

Now if I look at myself in the mirror

one could believe to see a woman of 40 years!

You didn`t want love, Johnny,

you wanted money, Johnny.

But I looked, Johnny, only at your mouth

You called for all I had, Johnny

I gave you even more, Johnny.

Take that pipe out of your face, you bastard!

Surabaya-Johnny. why are you so mean?

Surabaya-Johnny.

My God, and I love you so much!

Surabaya-Johnny. why I'm not joyful?

You don't have a heart, Johnny

and I love you so much!

I didn't take care

why they gave you this name,

but along the whole coast

you were a well-known guest.

One morning, in a six-pence-bed

I will hear the sea rumbling.

and you`re gone without a word

and your ship lays down at the quay.

You don't have a heart, Johnny

you`re just a villain

You're going now, Johnny?

tell me the reason!

I love you in spite of everything, Johnny,

like that very first day.

Take that pipe out of your face, you bastard!

Surabaya-Johnny. why are you so mean?

Surabaya-Johnny.

My God, and I love you so much!

Surabaya-Johnny. why I'm not joyful?

You don't have a heart, Johnny

and I love you so much!

• Artist:Lotte Lenya