I heard I heard the old man say, John Kanakanaka, tulai hey!
Today, today is a holiday! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!
Tulai hey, oh, tulai hey! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!

We’ll work tomorrow but not today, John Kanakanaka, tulai hey!
We’ll work tomorrow, but no work today! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!
Tulai hey, oh, tulai hey! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!

We’re bound away for Frisco Bay, John Kanakanaka, tulai hey!
We’re bound away, but today we’ll stay! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!
Tulai hey, oh, tulai hey! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!

We’re bound to go around Cape Horn, John Kanakanaka, tulai hey!
That’s the place where the devils been born! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!
Tulai hey, oh, tulai hey! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!

Oh, haul, oh, haul, oh, haul away, John Kanakanaka, tulai hey!
Haul away, boys, but not today! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!
Tulai hey, oh, tulai hey! John Kanakanaka tulai hey!