Johnny Came Down To Hilo

(Johnny Walk Along to Hilo; Poor Old Man)

I never see de like since I been born,
When a big black sailor wid his sea boots on, says
Ch: Johnny come down to Hi-lo, Poor old man!
Oh wake her, oh shake her,
Oh wake dat gal wid de blue dress on!
When Johnny comes down to Hilo, Poor old man!

I lub a little gal across de sea;
She's a 'Badian beauty, and she says to me:

Oh, was you ebber down in Mobile Bay,
Where dey screws cotton on a summer day?

Did you ebber see de old plantation boss,
And de long-tailed filly and de big black hoss?

I never see de like since I been born,
When a big black sailor wid his sea boots on

From The Shanty Book by Richard Runciman Terry (1921 and 1926)