Johnny Come Down the Hilo

This song is a folk shanty that originates in Massachusetts, the earliest version appears in a text collection from 1914 which refers to it as "O Johnny Come to Hilo."

As with most traditional songs, the variation of lyrics is so broad as the make nailing down the lyrics of the originating song nearly impossible.

It was performed with El Pony Pisador during the August 2018 Livestream.

Factoids
Hilo is believed to be a reference to the Island of Ilo,

Lyrics
These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns, these are the lyrics contributed by Andy himself, recently re-organized!

Well I never seen the like since I been born, A railroad navvy with his sea boots on {Chorus} When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man Oh, wake 'er, oh, shake 'er, Oh wake that gal with the blue dress on When Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man I met a little gal across the sea, She's a 'Badian beauty and she says to me {Chorus} Who's been here since I've been gone? Pretty little gal with a josey on {Chorus} Well my wife died in Tennessee, And they sent her jawbone back to me {Chorus} So I hung that jawbone on a fence And I ain't heard nothin' but the jawbone since {Chorus} Well I never seen the like since I been born A railroad navvy with his sea boots on