Surabaya in Indonesia is a pleasant port city and jumping off point for trekking up Agopuro volcano.
After your trip to Surabaya, before your trip, or if you are family, friends and colleagues left behind at home, take a look a the song Surabaya Johnny.
You Tube has lots of versions of the Surabaya song, including Bette Midler. However, our favourite is the one by Angel Blue. Very soulful. The singer laments that Surabaya Johnny is a liar and a loser, but she still loves him.
The Wikipedia article on the musical Happy End shows the story and where the song fits in.
The song makes more sense if you hear or see all the words: Essentially the girl wants a man with a steady job, not a sailor who will sail off (for work or travels) and leave her.
Spoiler Alert
But he has lied.Claiming to work on the railroad.
He is about to go off again, abandoning her, and she laments his impending leaving. After you look at the history and geography of Surabaya, the song makes sense.
It is a port city. Lots of sailors. Before the days of universal plane travel and the long bridge.
After your trip to Surabaya, before your trip, or if you are family, friends and colleagues left behind at home, take a look a the song Surabaya Johnny.
You Tube has lots of versions of the Surabaya song, including Bette Midler. However, our favourite is the one by Angel Blue. Very soulful. The singer laments that Surabaya Johnny is a liar and a loser, but she still loves him.
The Wikipedia article on the musical Happy End shows the story and where the song fits in.
The song makes more sense if you hear or see all the words: Essentially the girl wants a man with a steady job, not a sailor who will sail off (for work or travels) and leave her.
Spoiler Alert
But he has lied.Claiming to work on the railroad.
He is about to go off again, abandoning her, and she laments his impending leaving. After you look at the history and geography of Surabaya, the song makes sense.
It is a port city. Lots of sailors. Before the days of universal plane travel and the long bridge.
Happy End
Happy End, the musical comedy which includes the song Surabaya Johnny, was first performed way back in 1929. Kurt Weill (note the double l) and Bertold Brecht were responsible. Kurt the composer and Bertold Brecht, the librettist (songwriter).
Kurt Weill and Bertold Brecht
Kurt Weill and Bertold Brecht were a magical combination, of songwriter and composer, like Gilbert and Sullivan, and George and Ira Gershwin who were brothers.
Bertold Brecht, a nicely alliterative name, wrote the words. Kurt Weill composed the music. Both survived WWII but died young - well, middle-aged - of heart problems.
Even more famous were their musicals Three penny Opera, featuring Mac the Knife, and Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess, (Summer time when the living is easy, summer time when the grass grows high) ground-breaking because of its black cast and the insistence on black singers.
Useful Websites
Surabaya Johnny on You Tube
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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