“John Kanaka”
Description
Shanty. Characteristic line: "John Kanaka-naka, too-li-ay." The sailors describe how they will "work tomorrow but no work today!" Some details of their trip around the horn on a Yankee ship are given
Notes
"Kanaka" was a term applied to Hawaiian men. Whether this song is referring to that or to "Canucks" (French-Canadians) is obscure. - PJS
The term is used in Australia for Polynesians in general, especially those who worked in the Queensland sugar plantations. (It is said to mean simply "man.") I have to suspect that the song originally referred to the Polynesians, though of course northern sailors might have thought it meant Canucks. - RBW
References
- Hugill, pp. 288-289, "John Kanaka" (1 text, 1 tune) [AbEd, p.212]
- Fahey-Eureka, pp. 50-51, "John Kanaka" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, JONKANAK*
- Roud #8238
- BI, FaE050