"John Kanaka" lyrics

"John Kanaka"

I heard, I heard an old man say
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
Today, today is a holiday
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
I heard, I heard the old man say
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
We'll work tomorrow, but not today
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!

Tu-rai-ay, oh! Tu-rai-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!

We're outward bound at the break of day
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
We're outward bound for 'Frisco Bay
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
We're outward bound around Cape Horn
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
Where you wish to God you'd never been born
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!

Tu-rai-ay, oh! Tu-rai-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!

We're a Yankee Ship with a Yankee crew
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
And we're the boys to push her through
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
We're a Yankee Ship with a Yankee mate
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
Don't stop to walk or he'll change your gait
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!

Tu-rai-ay, oh! Tu-rai-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!

And when we get to 'Frisco Bay
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
We'll pay off ship and draw our pay
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
Oh, haul, oh haul, oh haul away
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
Haul away and make our pay
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!

Tu-rai-ay, oh! Tu-rai-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
Tu-rai-ay, oh! Tu-rai-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-rai-ay!


Writer(s): Dp, James Last