I heard, I heard the old man say,
JOHN KANAKA NAKA TULAI E!
Today, today, is a holiday!
JOHN KANAKA NAKA TULAI E!
CHORUS:
Tulai e oh tulai e! John Kanaka naka tulai e!
We’ll work tomorrow but no work today;
We’ll work tomorrow but no work today;
(chorus)
We’re bound, we’re bound for Frisco Bay!
We’re bound away at the break of the day;
(chorus)
We’re bound away around Cape Horn,
We wish to Christ we’d never been born!
(chorus)
Oh haul, oh haul, oh haul away!
Oh haul away and make your pay!
(chorus)
‘Cause tomorrow is judgement day!
I heard the angels so do say;
(chorus)
And the lord of fire will walk the Earth,
We’d better give him a mighty girth!
(chorus)