The Song Search |
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China Night |
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| In the early '60s, when I first came to Yokosuka, there was a song on the radio. The lyrics were sung in "pidgin Japanese" The lyric was "She no got no Yodo," or something like that. The word supposedly meant, when I asked, "me no got an overnight pass". So for the website I set out to find this song that has struck a romantic string in my heart and was the exotic element I expected from my Navy travels. After all we joined the Navy to see the world!! | |||||||
| So I e-mailed everybody I could find. What
follows are the replies from all who helped find this special song, and the
many twists and turns that evolved from the search. ***** To: My Song Search Friends From Noel Nichols, Websnipe USS Hopewell DD 681, In the early '60s, when I came to Yokosuka, there was a song on the radio that I am trying to find. The lyric was "She no got no Yodo," or something like that. The word supposedly meant, "me no got an overnight pass". I have been searching and thought you might know of an old local salt who might remember this song. "Sukiyaki", Ue O Muite Aruko, was not it. ***** Replies ???? simply...who are you? ***** Hi Sorry that I can not help you. Bruce ***** Good morning - I am right now heading off to bed after 12 hours out at the salt-mine.. But, I will try to find out something for you - if I can.. The only song that sounds like that is the Japanese song sung by Kyu Sakamoto (in the early 60's) .. but let me see if we can find something further.. we might have to put out the feelers through the NCVA listing.. Are you current on that listing?... Will try and get back to you later on - I work for the next three days (7:00p.m. till 7:00a.m.). Back later Noel. Regards, Joe Glockner ***** Noel, The farthest west I got on the USS Menhaden (SS-377) was to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in the summer of 1962. Never went to Yokosuka. Perhaps one of the Menhaden crewmembers who are receiving a copy of this message can help you out. Just out of curiosity, are you looking for the record, or just the lyrics? After about forty years, the lyrics might be some what easier to find than the record! :-) Cheers! Dave "Grog" Carpenter, former IC2(SS), USS Menhaden (SS-377), 11/61-8/63 ***** Hello, I actually don't know many sailors. but you might want to try the inter FM Japanese radio station-- it is a bilingual station-- the e mail address is: http://www.interfm.co.jp/ Sorry I couldn't be more help to you; if there is anything else, let me know! Emilie Ashby.... Noel you know what? do you live near any colleges??? I would take this question of lyrics to a local college. you sound like you might have enough information to do a search. you would be AMAZED at what librarians can do. and now w/ the internet, their wealth of information is unlimited... it is worth a try. Emilie...... OK I have emailed to two Japanese speaking people asking how to say this ("I don't have an overnight"). If they don't get back to me by tomorrow--I will call the family service center on base and ask them. so I should have an answer to you by your night time (Thursday)........ Emilie................ OK This was forwarded to me by a Japanese National who has spent 10 years in the states--she works for Author Andersen (and is married to a LDO) she speaks English very well-- I hope this helps you out! "Hi, Emilie! "I don't have an overnight pass." should be Watashi wa oubaa naito pasu wo motte imasen. "I don't have overnight liberty." should be Watashi wa hitoban-jyuu jiyuu de wa arimasen. I hope this helps. Take care! Yuka Emilie ***** Hi Noel.... The Title of the song is "China Night".. It was just a joke amongst the "Ladies".... "She no got no overnight." .... Brings back a few memories for me, also. LT. Jack Nunley U.S. Navy (Ret.) Walton, Ky 41094 USS Walker (DDE-517) 1956-1959 SH1 Jack ***** Noel - I really can't help you there. I was in Yokosuka in the 70s, so I never heard of that song. And, I really am not in touch with anyone from the crew, with the except of Paul Henriott, who runs one of the other Leonard F. Mason Websites. Maybe you could try the Tin Can Sailors Website? Dave ***** Noel Nichols wrote: I am not to get too optimistic. I was hoping for a mpg recording. But I'll accept anything. I went to a tag sale and found a 45 recording of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" for my 1952 Ship's web page. I found one sole who might give me the Japanese for what little of the lyric I remember. I found you by a Google search on "Yokosuka" ***** Noel The only musical memory I have of Yokuska was (and I hope I spell it write) sounds like Tanka Buushy??? A Ballad about a family. I bought the record but have misplaced it. I know we use to have it on juke box in mess hall and it played all the time. I would be interest to here about your Google search. Tad Whitehead MM2SS '58-'60 ***** I only remember a small part of the words to "China Night" and these seem familiar. I think my problem is that I'm mixing the two songs together. I'll never forget the music, though. Best wishes, *** Hi The song is China Night. Sheena means moon. The moon is bright tonight. Bob Bowlus ***** I will ask around and see what I can find. I will let you know if I find anything. MMCM(SS) Greg Peterman USN Retired Webmaster of the Goat Locker http://goatlocker.org ***** Noel, Thanks for the memories. As I remember it, the version we sang in the 50's was a bastardization of an actual Japanese song entitled China Night. The way I remember it was "Me ain't got no yo-yo, string broke on down stroke and yo-yo roll away". I remember hearing the real song and it was truly a beautiful song. Myron ***** Noel! Bob Frier here. I am sorry I cannot help you on the song. I don't think I heard it sung at the White Hat Club were all the boat sailors gathered!!!!! Hope you have success in searching for the words. I am trying to remember the " Tanko Bushi (sp?)" Bob Frier *** Noel, The song you sent is close, but the tune is not that familiar. I did visit some Destroyer Sailors bars in Yokosuka -- only one fight ensued! :-) (A funny story with that one.) So, I may have heard the tune. but the Tanko had a "dance" with it, or something with movements like Tai Chi. ***** I know what you are talking about. We also heard the same song in 1957. I can't help you with the name, Sorry! Ed Murillo RD3 USS E.F. Larson DDR 830 1955 - 1957 ***** Several years ago I searched the Internet with great diligence looking for a midi version, or any version, of China Night, Shina no Yoru. Could not find anything. Wanted it because my wife, since deceased, was a great fan of Shirley Yamaguchi (Yamaguchi Yoshiko), the actress who played in the movie Shina no Yoru, and made the original recording of the song. (I believe Yoshiko is still alive.) I served in the Occupation, latter days, and Korean War, early days. That music brings back many very fond memories.... Bob ***** The song you were asking about when you were in Yoko in the 60's was "shina no yodu" (that isn't a literal quote but it's close). It is a Japanese folk song and has nothing to do with sailors and overnight passes. If you go to Japan you can still hear it at "kareoke" bars when the Japanese men are getting drunk and start singing and doing Japanese dances. Yoko is not the same Yoko we knew in the 60's and 70's. Black Market alley only has about 4 or 5 bars that sailors can go into. Most of the bars won't let American sailors in, ..... Sasebo is a little better and you could go back and still see sailor style bars like we knew and loved. Hope this helps. Larry Yano ***** Noel The song you are referring too is "I ain't got no yo yo"; it's a bastardized version of "china nights" that was sung by the sailors. There was a record put out by some one Jay Sherman [email protected] ***** sorry it took so long to answer you but I have been traveling for the past three weeks. In regard to your inquire - the song was "Shina no Yoru" (China night) but the sailors version was She ain't got no yoyo He ain't got no yoyo also No fun, dry run Just like Christine Jorgenson She ain't got no yoyo Doak Walker RMC (ret) Historian of 255 Owasco Class Cutters Chairman of 255 Sailors Reunion II Visit my website at http://www.ptialaska.net/~saad Noel; Just received your address and will get the tape in the mail to you tomorrow. I was in Korea in 1952-1953, and these songs were really popular there. One of my girlfriends there taught me to dance to "Tanko-Bushi". Its a Japanese dance where you pretend to shovel coal, bow, play patty-cake with your hands etc. It portrays a sailor shoveling coal on the old coal fired ships. I was back in Korea a few years ago for a Korean Vets reunion put on by the Korean Navy League, and had another sailor there that had been looking for these songs for over 40 years .. needless to say he was really thrilled that I had them and as soon as I got back home I sent it to him. I spent countless hours in the "Esquire Bar", the "Black Rose" bar and many others while there, and after the truce was signed I really hated to leave there. Far different then than it is now .. the women weren't 'westernized" yet. HA HA.. And things were really inexpensive! I'll get this tape in the mail to you first thing in the morning. The quality is not real good, but what you can expect from Japanese 78rpm records from that time. Enjoy ... (Anything for a shipmate ... and good luck to you. Don Krause 810 Cassie Dr. Joliet, Illinois 60435I'm glad the tape reached you in good shape. I was on the USS Lake Champlain CVA39, and was home based in Mayport Florida after its re-commissioning in 1952 in Norfolk. We were supposed to go to England for the Queens coronation but our orders were changed at the last minute to proceed to the Korean battle zone as soon as we finished our shakedown cruise in the Caribbean. We left Norfolk and proceeded to the battle line. We would pull into Yokosuka about every 4 to 6 weeks for R&R, and a few trips to Sasebo and Hong Kong with the 1st marines for R&R. We were there until the truce was signed in 1953 and then left for the States. The Japanese songs were all very popular in all the bars throughout the war in Japan. Especially China Night. They bring back many fond memories of those days. Japan had not yet been westernized and everything was really inexpensive. Many of the women still wore the kimonos and wooden clogs. The younger girls were trying to dress to please us sailors by wearing short skirts and high heels. Some were pretty comical! The dollar was worth 360 yen, and you could spend all night with a girl for 1000 yen (about $3.50). We would go to a hotel on VD hill and reserve the rental of the whole hotel for our next visit in Yokosuka. The old PaPa-san would ask us how many girls we needed and what we'd like to drink so he would know how much beer and whiskey to have on hand. The whole AO shop would avail itself of the hotel for 2 days. There were only about 8 of us in the whole AO gang! Needless to say we all had some memorable times! I hope the tape was to your liking. Don ***** Hi; I have that song on a 45 rpm record. I bought it in Japan in the early 60's. I am presently out of town on business and will not be home until next weekend at which time I will look and see if I can dig it up and let you know the title and singer. Dick Purvis USS Walker from 62' to 65' ***** Shina no Yoru was composed in 1935 (the Japanese year of "Showa Ju Nen") by a couple of professional songwriters (Nishi & Matsuoka). Was recorded by several female artists including Watanabe Hamako (the version you have), Miyako Harumi and Yamaguchi Yoshiko. The version best known to most Westerners is the latter, who recorded under the name of "Shirley" Yamaguchi. "Shina" is the Japanese pronunciation of "China" (formally Chukoku) and is no more pejorative than using the term "Amerika" (instead of Beikoku) for the United States. Richard McDurmin ***** Hello, friend You sure as hell came to the right place. The guy that wrote that naughty little ditty is a lifelong friend of mine, a piano player-entertainer named Larry Allen. In the '50s and '60s, he played live in cabarets and nightclubs around Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Manila and wherever. He wrote parodies on various types of tunes. The one you're thinking of was a takeoff on a Japanese song "China no yoru (or China Night). His little story involved a guy and a girl that couldn't seem to get it on sexually ...because "He ain't got no yoyo "She ain't got none also "Don't they make a helluva pair, "Tryin' and tryin' and gettin' nowhere..." Larry--a big, affable guy--is an old dude now, living in semi-retirement somewhere in New England. I hear from him from time to time; his daughter Rachelle still lives in Tokyo and I see her sometimes, too. He wrote an album full of such naughty stuff, parodies, all.. I remember some of the titles... 'Twas on a pile of debris that I met her (from Isle of Capri) I Hate to See That Evening Gown Go Down (St. Louis Blues) Papa Loves Manko (a nasty reference to a lady's genitalia) Mama Loves Chimbo (likewise a gent's) Song called "Sukiyaki Mambo" which involved bowel movements (you wouldn't want to know) And like that. He's a dear, dear man and I miss him a lot. And, incidentally, one hell of a fine jazz piano player. Glad someone out there remembers Larry's efforts. Good luck Corky Alexander Editor & Publisher Tokyo Weekender ***** Noel I'll repeat: the song is based On "China Night," a famed folk song in the '40s and '50s. Shia no Yoru. "Yoru" is Japanese for "night," you might remember. The guy is right: it had nothing to do with sailors or service people at all. Larry Allen wrote the parody that I sent you earlier. This must be important to you. Best regards Corky Alexander (resident of Asia since 1953)
Millard �Corky� Alexander, the genial editor and publisher of the Tokyo Weekender, a newspaper that has served as a forum for Tokyo�s foreign and English-speaking Japanese community for more than 30 years, collapsed and died Tuesday night in Tokyo, the family said in a statement Wednesday. He was 73. A friendly, outgoing Texan (hometown: Childress) by birth and persuasion, Alexander came to Asia in the 1950�s to cover the Korean War and its aftermath with a military Combat Photo Squadron. He took up residence in Japan as the editor of a monthly magazine for the U.S. armed forces in Nagoya in 1955, joined Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military newspaper, as an editor-reporter in 1957, working out of Tokyo. Alexander loved to play hard and work hard. �This toddlin� old town was once a roaring, �round-the-clock wingding of a nonstop party,� he recalled in a Weekender column. �I recall running the streets of Roppongi, Ginza, Shimbashi, Toranomon, Yoshiwara (yes!) and environs in my early-to-mid 20�s till the pre-dawn hours, then making it to the office (in my case, a newspaper office) at 5, ready for a day�s work. Or for 18 holes on the golf course, never worse for wear.� He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their four daughters, Jill, Mrs. Gus Treewater of the San Francisco Bay Area; Fran, Mrs. Kazuyoshi Fujii of Tokyo; Aline, Mrs. Kurt Kafentzis of Orange County, California; and Susan, Mrs. Jim Merk of Tokyo; and eight grandchildren. Merk is the Managing editor of the Weekender. ******* Hi; Glad you got back to me. I had a problem with my hard drive on my laptop and had to send to Compaq to get the software to redo it like new. I lost all my software and emails so need your address again so I can send you a 45 via US mail. Dick Purvis Elkhart, Indiana ***** Dick Yes, it's coming in the mail and should be up on the web site in a few weeks. I hope its not too vulgar as I have such romantic fond memories from when I heard it on the radio in Yokosuka. Thanks for the reply. --- Noel ***** So here it is; Click on the *********** The version that finally came out of all the palaver on the site is the beautiful, haunting, and accurate version which brings us all back to Tokyo, Yokosuka, and other streets of the '50s, as "China Night" poured from a thousand bars. "Shi-na no Yoru" was the "Lilli Marleen" of the Korean War if you come to think of it. Sure most GIs and Swabbies didn't know the Japanese, and "She ain't got no yo-yo" and similar bastardizations resulted. But no one can hear it, the real thing, that is, without significant memories. At least I can't. Bob Ryan St. Michaels, MD
And here is the Parody; Click link |
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