Chong. (He Come from Hong Kong).

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Chinese-themed sheet music by popular songwriter Harold Weeks, composer of such songs as Hindustan and Kentucky Home.

Weeks’ song Chong (He Come from Hong Kong) may have been inspired by the then-growing popularity of Chinese-American restaurants among the middle classes:

Little Al-lee Fo Chong played all day in an or-i-en-tal way,—In a swell Chin-ese Ca-fé,—But Al-lee loved his rag the same as you,—And ev-‘ry evening when his work was thru,—Al-lee layed his Tom Tom down, Pret-ty soon you hear this sound: [Chorus] “Chong, he come from Hong Kong…”

The sheet music cover shows Chong wearing a cap and a short jacket with long sleeves, his braided queue trailing behind. The title lettering is in a pseudo-Chinese style plus there is “Chinese” jibberish in the surrounding border, much in the way of faux Japanese or Arabic writing seen in other stereotypical, ethnic-themed ephemeral pieces.

Price: $45.00