H.M.S. Rose off Ferryland, August 1995. Printed from shanty.rendance.org Site contents © 1993-2009 Andrew Draskóy excepting product images and lyrics.
John Kanaka - as sung by Penny Sidor

I thought I heard the old man say
John Kanaka-naka too lie ay
Today, today is a holiday
John Kanaka-naka too lie ay
Too lie ay, oh, to lie ay
John Kanaka-naka too lie ay

We'll work tomorrow but no work today
We'll work tomorrow but no work today

We're bound away for 'Frisco Bay
We're bound away at the break of day

We're bound away 'round Cape Horn
We wish to Christ we'd never been born

Oh haul, oh haul, oh haul away
Oh haul away and make your pay

And we are Liverpool born and bred
We're strong in the arm but we're thick in the head