I thought I heard, the old man say (hoo!)
John Kanaka-naka tu-rye-ay!
Today, today is a holiday (hoo!)
John Kanaka-naka tu-rye-ay!

Tu-lai-ay, oh! Tu-rye-ay!
John Kanaka-naka tu-rye-ay!

We're bound away at the break of day (hoo!)
(John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay)
We're bound away for 'Frisco Bay (hoo!)
(John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay)

Too-rye-ay, oh! Too-rye-ay
John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay

Them Frisco girls ain't got no comb (hoo!)
(John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay)
They comb their hair with a herring backbone (hoo!)
(John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay)

Too-rye-ay, oh! Too-rye-ay
John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay

Just one more heave and that'll do (hoo!)
(John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay)
'Cause we're the crew to pull her through (hoo!)
(John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay)

Too-rye-ay, oh! Too-rye-ay
John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay

I thought I heard the old man say (hoo!)
(John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay)
Today, today it's a holiday (hoo!)
(John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay)

Too-rye-ay, oh! Too-rye-ay
John, Kanaka-naka, too-rye-ay