Many of the versions of this song are horribly racist, or else they sound like racist lyrics that were sanitized. I found a version of this song that apparently came from African-American social reformer Frederick Douglass (1818-1895). I think they sound pretty good. What think ye? It's a difficult question. I don't want to sanitize songs, but neither do I want to sing lyrics that are racist or sexist.
Source: http://leighfought.blogspot.com/2011/08/douglass-and-johnny-come-down-to-hilo.html

JOHNNY COME DOWN TO HILO

Never seen the like since I been born
An Arkansas farmer with his sea boots on
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
Wake her, shake her
Wake that gal with the blue dress on
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man

I got gal across the sea
She's a 'Badian beauty and she says to me…
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
Wake her...

Sally's in the garden picking peas
The hair on her head hanging down to her knees
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
Wake her...

My wife she died in Tennessee
And they sent her jawbone back to me
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
Wake her...

I put that jawbone on the fence
And I ain't heard nothing but the jawbone since
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
Wake her...

So hand me down my riding cane
I'm off to see Ms. Sarah Jane
Johnny come down to Hilo, poor old man
Wake her...