I heard, I heard, the Old Man say John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-e! Today, today is a holiday! John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-e! Tu-lai-e!, oh tu-lai-e! John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-e! We work tomorrow, no work today John Kanaka-naka, tulai-e! Today, today is a holiday John Kanaka-naka, tulai-e! Tulai-e, oh tulai-e! John Kanaka-naka, tulai-e! We're bound away for Frisco Bay John Kanaka-naka tulai-e! We're bound away at the break of day John Kanaka-naka tulai-e! Tulai-e, oh tulai-e! John Kanaka-naka, tulai-e! A Yankee ship with a Yankee crew
John Kanaka-naka tulai-e! Oh we're buckos for to push her through John Kanaka-naka tulai-e! Tulai-e, oh tulai-e! John Kanaka-naka, tulai-e! A Yankee ship with a Yankee mate John Kanaka-naka tulai-e! He's the bugger who can change your gait! John Kanaka-naka tulai-e! Tulai-e, oh tulai-e! John Kanaka-naka, tulai-e! Oh, haul away, oh, haul away John Kanaka-naka tulai-e! Oh, haul away, an' make your pay John Kanaka-naka tulai-e! Tulai-e, oh tulai-e! John Kanaka-naka, tulai-e!