In the 1973 album The X-Seamen's Institute Sings at the South Street Seaport, the late Bernie Klay did these lyrics:

I thought I heard the Old Man say
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
Tomorrow is our sailing day
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
Turai-ay, oh, turai-ay
John Kanaka-naka, turai-ay

I thought I heard the bos'n say
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
There's work tomorrow, but no work today
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
Turai-ay, oh, turai-ay
John Kanaka-naka, turai-ay

The bos'n says before I'm through
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
You'll curse your mother for having you
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
Turai-ay, oh, turai-ay
John Kanaka-naka, turai-ay

There's rotten meat and weevily bread
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
It's pump or drown, the Old Man said
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
Turai-ay, oh, turai-ay
John Kanaka-naka, tulai-ay

She would not steer and she would not stay
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
She shipped the water night and day
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
Turai-ay, oh, turai-ay
John Kanaka-naka, turai-ay

It's one more pull and then we'll do
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
And we're the bullies to pull her through
John Kanaka-naka turai-ay
Turai-ay, oh, turai-ay
John Kanaka-naka, turai-ay

John Kanaka by the X-Seamen's Institute


Jay