Lyrics

John Kanaka

I thought I heard the Old Man say,
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e [too-lie-ay]
Today, today is a holiday!
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e

(Chorus)
Tulai-e, oh tulai-e
John Kanaka-nakatulai-e

I thought I heard the boatswain say,
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
There’s work tomorrow but no work today.
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e (Chorus)

The boatswain says “Before I’m through
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
You’ll curse your mother for having you”
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e (Chorus)

There’s rotten meat and weevily bread
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
Just like the Gate the Old Man said
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e (Chorus)

She would not steer and she would not stay
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
She shipped the water both night and day
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e (Chorus)

We’re all Liverpool born and bred
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
Strong in the arm but thick in the head
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
Growl ye may but go you must (Chorus)

If you growl too loud your head they’ll bust
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
Around Cape Horn our ship must go
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
Around Cape Horn through the ice and snow (Chorus)

My dear old mum she wrote to me
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
Oh son, my son come home from sea
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e (Chorus)

It’s one more pull and that will do,
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e
And we’re the bullies to pull her through
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e (Chorus)

Song Notes

These lyrics were relayed to Stan Hugill by a Kanaka (Hawaiian) named Mahana. It is related that “tulai-e” is probably Samoan, and that this might well be the last South Sea Island-based shanty remaining, an unknown amount of others perhaps lost over time.