Terry presented the song, in brief, in the following. Though he says it was "known to every sailor," compared to other chanties it wasn't mentioned much up to that point.

1920        Terry, R.R. "Sailor Shanties (II)." _Music and Letters_ 1(3) (July 1920):256-268.

Of the more rhythmic capstan shanties, the following rollicking tune (known to every sailor) is a fair sample:-

JOHNNY COMES DOWN TO HILO.

I nebber see de like since I bin born,
When a big buck nigger wid de sea boots on,
Sez Johnny come down to Hilo, O poor old man.
Oh wake her, Oh shake her, Oh wake dat gel wid de blue dress on,
When Johnny comes down to Hilo, O poor old man.

In his collection of the following year, ...

1921        Terry, Richard Runciman. _The Shanty Book, Part I_. London: J. Curwen & Sons.

...he presents the same, yet with more lyrics. These may be lyrics (probably, I think) that he didn't have space for in the earlier article. However, there is also the possibility that he tacked on lyrics from another source to flesh out and expand the song to a perform-able version (something he also admits to have done, in general). Terry sought to present "ideal" versions of the chanties, and tweaked them according to that concept. However, they were "based" in versions he once heard or deliberately collected. Here is what he says about this specific song:

This is clearly of negro origin. I learnt several variants of it, but for its present form I am indebted to Capt. W.J. Dowdy.

Keep in mind, FWIW, that Terry had also read Bullen and Sharp's works, above.

Here is the song text.

4. Johnny come down to Hilo

1. I nebber see de like since I bin born,

When a big buck nigger wid de sea boots on,

Says "Johnny come down to Hilo.
 Poor old man."

Oh wake her, oh, shake her,

Oh wake dat gel wid de blue dress on,

When Johnny comes down to Hilo.
 Poor old man.

2. I lub a little gel across de sea,

She's a Badian beauty and she sez to me,

"Oh Johnny," etc.

3. Oh was you ebber down in Mobile Bay

Where dey screws de cotton on a summer day?

When Johnny, etc.


4. Did you ebber see de ole Plantation Boss

And de long-tailed filly and de big black hoss?

When Johnny, etc.

5. I nebber seen de like since I bin born

When a big buck nigger wid de sea boots on,

Says "Johnny come down," etc.