Composer

:

Kurt Weill

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Cabaret

Compose Date

:

Jun 1929 - Aug 1929

Publication Date

:

1929

First Performance

:

Sep 2, 1929

Average_duration

:

4:37

"Surabaya-Johnny" is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht. It was written in 1928 and premiered in the musical play "Happy End" in Berlin on September 2, 1929. The song is a dramatic and emotional ballad sung by the character Lillian Holiday, a prostitute who is in love with a sailor named Johnny. The song is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement is slow and melancholic, with Lillian singing about her love for Johnny and the pain she feels when he is away at sea. The second movement is more upbeat and jazzy, with Lillian singing about the excitement and danger of her life as a prostitute. The third movement returns to the slow and mournful tone of the first, with Lillian singing about the inevitability of Johnny leaving her and the sadness that will follow. The song is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and unconventional chord progressions, which create a sense of tension and unease. The lyrics are also notable for their frank and gritty portrayal of the lives of prostitutes and sailors, which was unusual for the time. The song has since become a classic of Weill and Brecht's work, and has been covered by numerous artists in a variety of styles.

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