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.