Sonny James Lyrics
"Shina No Yoru"

Shina no yoru

Shina no yoru yo

Minato no akari

Murasaki no yo ni

Noboru janku no

Yume no fune

Aa wasurarenu

Kokyu no ne

Shina no yoru

Yume no yoru

Shina no yoru

Shina no yoru yo

Yanagi no mado ni

Lantan yurete

Akai torikago

Shina musume

Aa yarusenai

Ai no uta

Shina no yoru

Yume no yoru

Shina no yoru

Shina no yoru yo

Kimi matsu yoru wa

Obashima no ame ni

Hana mo chiru chiru

Beni mo chiru

Aa wakaretemo

Wasuraryo ka

Shina no yoru

Yume no yoru What a night in China,

What a night in China

Harbor lights,

Deep purple night,

Ah, ship,

The dreamship

I can't forget

The sound of the Kokyu.

Ah, China night,

A dream night.

What a night in China,

What a night in China,

Over the willow window,

A ramp was shaking,

Chinese lady

Was there like a bird,

Singing love songs,

Sad sounding love songs

Ah, China night,

A dream night.

What a night in China,

What a night in China,

I was waiting in the parapet

There was this girl in a rain

The rouge on her cheeks

Like flowers were in bloom,

Forever, I will remember

Even after we separated,

Ah, China night,

A dream night.

Source: Club Nisei Japanese Music of Hawaii CD available
from: www.cordinternational.
com - China Night was popular during the years preceding
WWII. Kokyu in verse 1, stanza 8 is a Chinese musical instrument.