Johnny Come Down To Hilo
Trad.
a 19th century Halyard chant with an Irish tune and roots among enslaved workers in the American South. Theres a bit of a debate over whether Hilo is referring to Hawaii (stop on the 19th century sugar/whaling trade) or Ilo, Peru (nitrate/guano trade).
LYRICS
CHORUS
Oh, wake 'er, oh, shake 'er
Oh, wake that gal with the blue dress on
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
Well, I never seen the like since I've been born
A railroad navvy with his sea boots on
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
CHORUS
I met a little gal across the sea
She's a 'Badian beauty and she says to me
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
CHORUS
Well, who's been here since I've been gone?
Pretty little gal with a josey on
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
CHORUS
Well, my wife died in Tennessee
And they sent her jawbone back to me
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
CHORUS
Well shake her bullys helms allie
She'll get washed out with the big green sea
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
CHORUS
Well, I never seen the like since I been born
A railroad navvy with his sea boots on
When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
CHORUS x 2