John Kanaka
The Fisherman's Friends Lyrics


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I heard, I heard, the Old Man say,
John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-e! (too-lie-ay)
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'll work tomorrow, but 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!

Overall Meaning

"John Kanaka" is a traditional sea shanty sung by The Fisherman's Friends. The song tells the story of a crew on a Yankee ship bound for Frisco Bay. The opening lyrics suggest that the crew is taking a break from their work as they sing a joyful chorus of "John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-e!" The crew is full of energy and enthusiasm as they celebrate the holiday, but they also know that they'll be working again tomorrow. The crew sings about their ship and its crew, including the captain and his ability to keep them in line. They also sing about the hard work required of sailors and how they "haul away" to make their pay. Overall, the song is a celebration of the sailor's life and the hard work and camaraderie that comes with it.


The Fisherman's Friends are a group of folk singers from Cornwall, England. They derive their name from the fact that all its members are fishermen and singers, and they began singing together in 1995. The group has gained international fame for their performances of traditional sea shanties and folk songs.


Line by Line Meaning

I heard, I heard, the Old Man say,
The singer heard an elderly man say something


John Kanaka-naka tu-lai-e! (too-lie-ay)
The phrase 'John Kanaka' is being repeated in a chant-like manner to get people excited about the upcoming holiday


Today, today is a holiday!
The day is a special celebration


We'll work tomorrow, but no work today,
There will be no work today, but tomorrow they will return to work


Tu-lai-e!, oh, tu-lai-e!
The chant continues to get everyone excited about the holiday


We're bound away for Frisco Bay,
The group is leaving for Frisco Bay


We're bound away at the break of day.
They will leave early in the morning


A Yankee ship with a Yankee crew,
The ship they are on is American, with an American crew


Oh we're buckos for to push her through.
They are working hard to move the ship along


He's the bugger who can change your gait!
The mate on the ship has the power to change things for the crew


Oh, haul away, oh, haul away!
They are chanting as they work on the ship


Oh, haul away, an' make your pay!
They are working hard to earn money and keep the ship moving




Writer(s): Rupert Christie, Jeremy Brown, John Lethbridge, Billy Hawkins, Peter Rowe, Traditional, Julian Brown, Trevor Grills, Jason Nicholas, Jonathan Cleave, John Mcdonnell, John Brown, Louise Brown

Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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