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Hong Kong Cemetry
Johnny Flynn Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

There are ten thousand graves in Hong Kong Protestant Cemetery
Every one of them says "born and died, and the rest might be history"
Walking there I'd cry
For my love was there to lie
I never knew shame to be so refreshing
I'd sing Georgia on my mind, she would be, I'd be progressing...

Was the day of the boats for the fellas in coats in the Navy
They'd be all around, change the face of this town cos they're lazy
1952 was the year that I lost you
I was with the soldiers in the school hall
Didn't know that you were ill
You didn't seem old

China so you so blue so who's aboard the boatsie stay
Some people are fixing the terrible
Mixing the crew of all the sailors say,

Your life might be a a mess of lights
When your on your won
But the lights you'll from a line that will be pointing all the way home
I was here before, my name was on the door
To a score of his to get to your seat
I'll send the next in line, he'll be a clean sheet

Overall Meaning

The song "Hong Kong Cemetery" by Johnny Flynn tells the story of a person visiting the Hong Kong Protestant Cemetery, which has over ten thousand graves, each one bearing the same epitaph "born and died, and the rest might be history". The singer reflects on their lost love, who is buried amongst the graves, and how they never thought that grief and shame could be so refreshing. As they walk through the cemetery, the singer sings "Georgia on my mind", and imagines that their love would have been proud of their progress.


The song then moves onto a memory of the year the singer lost their love, 1952. They were with soldiers in a school hall, unaware that their love was ill, before they ultimately passed away. The singer reflects on how "China [is] so blue", and how the sailors aboard the boats are fixing the terrible mix of sailors.


Line by Line Meaning

There are ten thousand graves in Hong Kong Protestant Cemetery
Hong Kong Protestant Cemetery accommodates numerous graves, exactly ten thousand to be precise.


Every one of them says "born and died, and the rest might be history"
All of them have the same thing inscribed on them, that is, they were born, died, and their remaining past can be labeled as history.


Walking there I'd cry
As I used to stroll at the Hong Kong Protestant Cemetery, it would make me weep.


For my love was there to lie
The reason behind my crying was that my beloved was laying there.


I never knew shame to be so refreshing
I never thought that feeling ashamed could be a refreshing and revitalizing feeling.


I'd sing Georgia on my mind, she would be, I'd be progressing...
While I was singing Georgia on my mind, it seemed as if I was slowly but steadily making amends with my situation.


Was the day of the boats for the fellas in coats in the Navy
It was the day for the Navy men, who wore jackets, to work on the boats.


They'd be all around, change the face of this town cos they're lazy
They would be wandering everywhere, transforming the city's scenario as they are reluctant to work.


1952 was the year that I lost you
As a matter of fact, 1952 was the unfortunate year when I lost you.


I was with the soldiers in the school hall
I was present in the school hall, together with other soldiers.


Didn't know that you were ill
At that time, I did not have any clue that you were unwell.


You didn't seem old
I disagree that you seemed like you were elderly at that moment.


China so you so blue so who's aboard the boatsie stay
The blue color of China can be clearly seen, but the question is, who is actually on board the boats and staying there.


Some people are fixing the terrible
Several individuals are trying to fix the damage or the terrible situation.


Mixing the crew of all the sailors say,
The sailors say that mixing the crew is significant.


Your life might be a mess of lights
Your life could be cluttered and chaotic like a mesh of many lights.


When your on your won
Specifically when you are alone and by yourself.


But the lights you'll from a line that will be pointing all the way home
But the shining bright lights will guide you like a line that would accurately direct you to reach home.


I was here before, my name was on the door
I have been to this location before, and my name was marked on the door.


To a score of his to get to your seat
To his impressive tune, I got situated on your seat.


I'll send the next in line, he'll be a clean sheet
I will appoint the next person in line, who will be a new and inexperienced candidate for the job.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADAM BEACH, JOE ZEITLAN, JOHN PATRICK VIVIAN FLYNN, MATT EDMONDS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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